By Paul Wilcoxen
The Southern Illinoisan, Ill.
MARION, Ill. — Through a collaboration with St. Francis Community Animal Rescue, incarcerated individuals are learning to care for and train rescue dogs, creating life-changing experiences for both man and animal.
Diane Daugherty, President of the St. Francis Board of Directors, described the program as a win for everyone involved.
“It’s awesome. We’ve been at it for 15 months, and we just graduated the fifth class at Marion,” Daugherty said. “The dogs are there for 12 weeks, and the inmates apply to be part of the program.”
Prisoners trained the most recent graduates at the United States Penitentiary in Marion.
“It’s a reward for them; you can tell how much it means. I’ve seen grown men cry when they meet a dog for the first time in years,” Daugherty said.
The partnership involves giving dogs basic obedience training and rehabilitating both the dogs and the inmates.
“The inmates have said this is the first time they’ve felt love back, that they’ve cared for someone besides themselves,” Daugherty said. “These men are in prison for a reason, but when you see them with the dogs, they’re like little boys again.”
The program, facilitated by certified trainers Gary and Amy Cline, teaches inmates how to work with dogs who may lack manners or confidence.
“We don’t train the dogs directly,” Gary Cline said. “We teach the inmates how to train and rehabilitate the dogs.”
The program follows the Canine Good Citizen standard, a recognized measure of good dog behavior. Amy Cline emphasized the use of positive reinforcement techniques.
“We teach the inmates to guide the dogs without punishment,” Amy Cline said. “Everything is positive. If they get frustrated, we tell them to step away and return later.”
She said it’s about building trust and confidence for the inmates and the dogs.
Inmates not only train the dogs but also build bonds with them. Each dog is assigned to a pair of handlers responsible for its care and training.
The dogs live in kennels in specially designated areas but spend much time on leashes, interacting with their handlers and other inmates. According to Amy Cline, this responsibility fosters a sense of purpose.
“For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve had to care for something,” Amy Cline said. “Seeing their pride in the dogs’ progress is amazing.”
The program benefits more than just the inmates. Daugherty explained that the dogs return to St. Francis better trained and well-behaved, significantly increasing their chances of adoption.
“Adoptions are down, but trained dogs stand out,” Daugherty said. “It’s much easier for them to find homes when they know basic commands and are well-behaved. We’ve already had 30 dogs adopted out from Marion.”
For the inmates, the skills they learn could lead to new opportunities after their release.
“If they put in the hours, they become certified dog trainers,” Daugherty said. “That’s something they can carry into the future.”
The program’s success has even won over skeptics. A retired corrections officer, Gary Cline, admitted he was initially hesitant about working with inmates.
“I used to think we should focus on kids or the Boy Scouts, not prisoners,” Gary Cline said. “But this program changed my mind. It’s not for every prison, but when done right, it’s incredible.
With his time, Gary Cline sees big changes in the prisoners as they learn patience, responsibility and how to care for something.
“This program is a win for everyone,” Amy Cline said. “The dogs get homes, the inmates learn life skills, and the community benefits because these men will be our neighbors someday. It’s about creating a better future.”
The program’s emotional culmination is graduation day, when handlers say goodbye to their trained dogs.
“We tell them it’s the one day in prison they’re allowed to cry,” Gary Cline said. “And they do. Watching a dog they trained succeed shows them they can accomplish something good.”
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