‘Doggie Do Good’ Creates Special Bonds At Lompoc Federal Penitentiary

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - An Arroyo Grande non-profit called 'Doggie Do Good' is working with the federal penitentiary in Lompoc to teach inmates the skill of training specialized service dogs.

It's changing lives through the prison's 'Cuffs And Paws' program.

These dogs are being trained from puppy age for specialized service to people with disabilities such as epilepsy or diabetes.

Their trainers are inmates at United States Penitentiary, Lompoc, learning the skill while serving their sentences.

“Having, like, a, I hate to say, partner in crime in prison, but, having a little puppy with you,” says service dog handler Michael Scott. “They're always with us. We're always attached at the hip. You know, kind of that unconditional love you have for a dog. It's not something I ever expected to get in my time here.”

The non-profit’s goal is to make it easier for those with special needs who can benefit from a specialized service canine to be connected with the right dog.

“I met somebody that really needed a service dog, and they had no funds to be able to afford a service dog,” says Doggie Do Good’s CEO Sandy Sandberg. “And service dogs do a lot of different tasks, and they're very expensive to train because it takes a long time to train ‘em.”

Program coordinators say it can take up to 3 to 5 years for someone who needs a specially trained service dog to get one.

“They start as young as eight weeks old, and we have to train them to learn not only their basic obedience, but all their manners,” says Sandberg. “Potty training, not to bark, not to chew, not to be jumping on everyone. To be social, to get along good with people and other dogs, and to be able to do service dog behaviors for people that have different disabilities.”

The dogs are carefully chosen for the program, taking breed, temperament, and intelligence into account.

Incarcerated individuals are likewise selected for the program through strict vetting processes to become primary trainers and live with the pups on a full-time basis.

“We have a lot of time in this backyard, helping the dog,” says service dog handler Tony Archuleta Perkins. “And then if the dog knocks it out of the park, so to speak, and I'm like, ‘Oh! I'm doing that right, too, they're actually listen to me. They're actually responding to me,’ like, ‘kudos to myself!’”

Once these dogs graduate in a matter of a year or two, they will go to families and individuals who need them for their keen canine sensibilities.

“I’ve always known what service animals were, but I never knew how much these animals really do impact the lives of these family members that they end up going to,” says Archuleta Perkins. “And it's incredible to hear these stories. I'm like, ‘I’m sorry, where's the dog going and what are they—‘ It's like, it's just, it's profound.”

The inmates who trained them will have the skill of service dog training on their resume once they reach their rehabilitation goals.

“I actually may end up going out on the outside world and doing so,” says service dog handler Hao Chi. “I’m very—I learned a lot available lessons here. And, you know, the service industry is actually very interesting for me.”

Program leaders say many inmates who have participated in the program go on to successfully pursue careers in the field.

“The bond that these inmates make with their dogs, and also with each other as they get to work towards a common goal is really, really cool thing to see,” says Doggie Do Good’s service dog supervisor Hannah Dailey.

Participating inmates say they had never heard of this kind of program in prisons, but are glad the idea is catching on.

In recent years, similar programs have reared up in almost every state.

“These dogs offer them such a sense of independence and a companion to kind of help them through life,” says Dailey. “And just to be able to play a small role in assisting with that is really, really special. So it's definitely something that I see myself doing for a very long time.”

You can learn more about the non-profit Doggie Do Good and their service dog training programs by clicking here to visit their website.

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