We at the The Humane Society Serving Clark County are proud of our “Prison Program” and our partnership with the Allen Correctional Facility in Lima, Ohio.
P.E.T.S., or “Pets Educated To Survive” has been training animals since July 2001, and has trained more than 800 dogs and cared for more than 160 cats.
The program is coordinated by Sgt. Vern Pugsley. Two volunteers, Dorothy Miner and Diane Laratta, conduct weekly training sessions at the prison, and are AKC approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluators. Mary Ann Nortman, from Blue Star Dogs, also volunteers to help with the training.
In this program, dogs will be trained in basic obedience, socialization, house training, and will be evaluated as Canine Good Citizens. While in this program the animals will be under a vet's care, have all their shots, be altered, microchipped, and most importantly...loved.
Currently, we have 14 dogs in training, and look forward to creating a long list of animals trained through this wonderful program. If you are interested in adopting one of the P.E.T.S. animals, please contact the Shelter Coordinator, Krissi Hawke, at rescue@clarkhumane.org. If you have any questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions below...
The adoption fee for all P.E.T.S. animals is $150.00 plus the cost of a dog license.
Our first graduates from this program left to start their new lives with a loving family on July 15, 2008.
frequently asked questions
P.E.T.S., or “Pets Educated To Survive” has been training animals since July 2001, and has trained more than 800 dogs and cared for more than 160 cats.
The program is coordinated by Sgt. Vern Pugsley. Two volunteers, Dorothy Miner and Diane Laratta, conduct weekly training sessions at the prison, and are AKC approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluators. Mary Ann Nortman, from Blue Star Dogs, also volunteers to help with the training.
In this program, dogs will be trained in basic obedience, socialization, house training, and will be evaluated as Canine Good Citizens. While in this program the animals will be under a vet's care, have all their shots, be altered, microchipped, and most importantly...loved.
Currently, we have 14 dogs in training, and look forward to creating a long list of animals trained through this wonderful program. If you are interested in adopting one of the P.E.T.S. animals, please contact the Shelter Coordinator, Krissi Hawke, at rescue@clarkhumane.org. If you have any questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions below...
The adoption fee for all P.E.T.S. animals is $150.00 plus the cost of a dog license.
Our first graduates from this program left to start their new lives with a loving family on July 15, 2008.
frequently asked questions
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Why does it take so long?
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8 weeks is a standard amount of time for most training classes. We understand that 8 weeks is a long time to get your new family member, but it is necessary to ensure that dogs retain their training. It should also be noted that each adopter must continue with the commands at home each day for the most effective results from the training.
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Why are prison dogs that already have approved applications still listed on your internet sites?
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While the dogs are away at training, we continue to accept applications due to the fact that the first approved family sometimes has a last minute change of heart, or the dog doesn’t match their family. This way, we have backups an no one comes back without a home to go to.
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What, exactly, is a Prison Dog?
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A Prison Dog is an unowned dog that has been chosen by our staff for training. These dogs have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. These dogs are being house trained, crate trained, and will have basic obedience training such as sit, stay, heel & come.
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How do you choose which dogs go to prison?
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We usually choose dogs we believe will benefit most from the program, and are in need of training. This usually includes dogs that have not been socialized properly, or dogs that have yet to “come out of their shell”...and would have trouble being adopted otherwise. Each dog is temperament tested by multiple people, and then made ready for the program.
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Can we meet the dog before adopting it?
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If you happen to come in before the dog is sent to prison, we’re sure he or she would LOVE to meet you. However, by the time you see the dog on the internet...it’s already at the prison and learning. Once they’re at the prison, visitors are not permitted.
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Can I pick a dog from your shelter and have it sent through the Prison Program?
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Unfortunately, no. We have a very limited amount of spaces available to fill our portion of the program. We feel that our responsibility is to put dogs that will benefit most into this program, so that they can get adopted. Should you wish to put your newly adopted pet through a training program, we can certainly point you in the right direction.
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How do I know if the Prison Dog I’m interested in already has an approved application?
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We update our Petfinder.com website every few days. If an animal has an approved application, it will be listed underneath the photo.
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Where can I apply for a Prison Dog?
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Click HERE to apply online, or visit the Shelter for an application.
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If you have any other questions, please feel free to email the Shelter.
p.e.t.s.
