A program at the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility (LCRF) saves the lives of both puppies and their handlers. When the program first started, the inmate handlers worked tirelessly to develop a new P.U.P. training area. KSWO news, a local Lawton News Station, came and toured the Facility and met some pups during a training session. According to Dean Caldwell, Assistant Facility Administrator of Programs, "The inmates gain from the program because they learn self-respect and responsibility. They have risen to the challenge and have gained purpose." The inmates have to meet several requirements in order to participate in the program. The puppies come from Rainbow Bridge Can Wait, a local rescue that gives these pups a new beginning and makes sure they have had their shots and any needed medical care.
Jefferson, a schnauzer mix, had surgery on his windpipe after he was mistreated and abused. The trainer, Matt, who is renowned for his training of military service dogs on the Air Force base in Wichita Falls, Texas, as well as the Fort Sill Oklahoma Army base, loves to share his compassion and expertise with the dogs. Matt comes to the Facility once a week and reviews their weekly progress. COVID-19 has not stopped the handlers or their trainer. They have continued training and follow guidelines set by the CDC. At the end of the ten weeks, the pups go through the adoption process and are placed in loving homes. In the most recent adoption cycle, families came from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Illinois. Although parting from their pups can be challenging for the handlers, they become part of a much bigger process and give back to the community. The program is in its eighth rotation and has located and placed 40 dogs in caring and loving homes.
The pups leave the facility and their handlers, but they also leave a lasting impression on their handlers and other inmates. According to Priest, one of the handlers in the program, "The program is awesome. It takes me back to the days I spent in the real world. The dogs help to relieve stress and we appreciate being able to work with them." Many of the employees at LCRF go to see the pups, and some even apply for their adoption. To quote a line sent to one of the handlers from a family that adopted one of the pups, “He has done great and we love him. He gets along so well with our other pets and fits in perfectly with our family.” Appreciation like this is what makes contributing to this program so meaningful for the inmate participants.
