For the past two years, a black lab named Daisy has spent every day with her trainer learning to become a service dog. Daisy’s past life at a shelter is a distant memory. Now that she has learned tricks like turning on light switches and alerting, Daisy will soon leave her trainer’s care.
Daisy’s trainer, Mae, has learned valuable skills too. Over several years, Mae has become certified as a dog trainer through the Prison Pet Partnership. She already has a job lined up after she completes her sentence at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Prison Pet Partnership is a nonprofit that aims to give people and pets alike a second chance to live full and meaningful lives. Mae learned valuable skills that earned her permanent employment after prison, and Daisy found a new life outside the animal shelter.
In this article, learn about how the Prison Pet Partnership changes lives and how Washington Rock’s pea gravel was used to revitalize a dog run.
The Prison Pet Partnership: Affordable Services for the Community
The Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) is a sprawling 32-acre prison campus about a mile from the waterfront in downtown Gig Harbor. It’s the largest women’s prison in the state.
Over 150 pets visit WCCW in a typical week for grooming, training, boarding, and daycare services through the Prison Pet Partnership (PPP).
Staffed mostly by inmates, PPP has two buildings on campus: an office and a full-service kennel. The kennel includes a lobby for greeting clients, three fenced doggie daycare areas, a kitchen, and a laundry.
Grooming, training, and boarding are often prohibitively expensive for the average dog owner. PPP charges lower fees than average, making it possible for more dog owners to get the care their dogs need.
Olivia Simons can speak to how these affordable services can make a big difference. An expert in dog boarding, daycare, and dog behavior, Olivia has been the programs director at WCCW for nearly three years.
“Unfortunately, if [dog owners] have a behavior they can’t curb, they are forced to rehome the dog, which in turn floods our shelters,” Olivia explained. “And it is not the best situation for the dog. But since we can offer [training] at a lower cost, it definitely has helped a lot of people.”
PPP also works with local shelters to find dogs that can be trained as service animals or prepared for adoption. Not only do these dogs provide valuable training opportunities for program participants, but community members with disabilities are also able to adopt service dogs from PPP at no cost. Typically fees for service dogs can be as high as $30,000.
Since programming began at WCCW in 1984, over 700 dogs have been placed as service dogs, facility dogs, therapy dogs, and pets.
Earning a Spot in the Program
Currently over a dozen inmates work as groomers, trainers, and/or boarding staff at PPP to earn real-world certifications.
“They earn accreditations that are recognized throughout the United States,” Olivia explained. “And that way we help them get a job [after they complete their sentences].”
To qualify for the program, inmates must meet specific requirements. Inmates who have committed crimes against vulnerable community members—including animals, children, the elderly, and the disabled—are immediately disqualified. All other inmates are eligible to apply only after completing at least one year of their sentence and demonstrating good behavior during that time.
After being accepted into the program, participants must complete three months of educational requirements. Then they can apply to one of three certification programs: Pet Care Technician, Master Groomer, or Service Dog Trainer. Programs range in length from 12 months for technicians to as long as 48 months for dog trainers.
Each certification program contains three to four achievement levels. For example, the Pet Care Technician track includes Dog Handler I, Pet Care Technician I, and Pet Care Technician II.
PPP also arranges speaking engagements for participants.
“We work really hard as PPP staff members to get as many outside sources in here to do speaking engagements with [with program participants] to give them a better idea of what they’re going to see when they are released,” Olivia explained.
Participants may be able to complete all certification programs while at WCCW or continue a track outside of prison after serving their sentence.
Teachers of Love
An estimated 22% of incarcerated people in Washington State commit new crimes within three years of release. But less than 3% of graduates of PPP’s programs commit new crimes.
Why is the program so effective?
Program cofounder, a Dominican nun named Sister Pauline Quinn, believed that change comes by learning “how to bring love or kindness or charity into the prison.”
“I think the dog is a good teacher of that because they love unconditionally, and they respond to kindness,” Sister Pauline once said.
Sister Pauline’s own experience formed the foundation for her beliefs. After experiencing severe abuse in her childhood and living on the streets of Los Angeles, she formed a bond with a dog named Joni. She noticed how people treated her differently with Joni by her side.
In the 1980s, Sister Pauline eventually met veterinarian Dr. Leo Bustad, who advocated for exploring the benefits of human-animal bonds. The pair worked with a local university, a local college, and the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) to create programming for WCCW that could help rehabilitate inmates through connections with animals. Eventually the programs were formalized as the nonprofit PPP in 1990.
Sister Pauline passed away in 2020, but her legacy lives on through PPP.
Since its inception, PPP has become the inspiration for other programs of its kind. It has also started one of the only seizure-alert dog training protocols in the country.
Preparing for Life Outside Prison
Prison Pet Partnership isn’t just about training dogs, however important that may be. It’s first and foremost about providing structure, work skills, and life skills that will help participants thrive in and outside of prison.
“Most [incarcerated people] are going to be released,” Olivia said. “It’s better that they’re released and have life skills. [But] a lot of the people that are in our program unfortunately didn’t have that opportunity growing up. They grew up in poor environments, and sometimes they just didn’t have the best influences.”
Olivia’s family members included members of the military and law enforcement. So Olivia was initially skeptical when she started working at PPP. But her experiences taught her to be more hopeful that inmates can change for the better.
“All of the participants here have definitely impacted me in a positive way,” she said. “I do see things in a different light now, and I do see the benefit of programs like this.”
Olivia attributes the success of PPP to how well rounded the program is. Learning job skills is not the end of the program. She explained that PPP’s goal is to make their programs as close to real life as possible, helping participants “to troubleshoot things and . . . different ways to address challenges.”
Program participants go through an interview process to work at the kennel—just like in the “outside” world.
PPP bridges the difficult transition between prison life and civilian life by helping participants with “job placement, housing, transportation, clothing, [and] any kind of leads,” Olivia said.
The program is so effective that many participants already have jobs lined up before being released. Some have opened their own businesses. Others have gone on to earn college degrees. One participant was even hired as the executive director of a chapter of the Humane Society.
Olivia has seen the change that PPP facilitates firsthand.
One participant, Rose, was excited for the opportunity to become a dog trainer. PPP gave Rose a series of challenges to meet to prove her capabilities before being entrusted to train a dog.
Rose met each challenge with flying colors and earned her place in the training program. Now Rose’s dog is the top prospect to become a service dog.
“We try to teach [participants] that every dog comes into your life to teach you a lesson. And I’m a true believer in that in my own life,” Olivia said. “[Rose] came to us the other week and said that she feels that her dog has helped her learn patience, even with her own daughter. So to hear things like that is really rewarding. And to see somebody kind of find their niche . . . it’s amazing to see.”
A Post-COVID Refresh
After closing down their services in 2020 due to COVID, PPP started offering full services to the public again last year. Now with more clients than ever, PPP needed to update their facilities.
The biggest dog run at the doggie daycare had ongoing drainage issues. It was a muddy mess that wouldn’t grow grass.
PPP reached out to Washington Rock Quarries for information and suggestions.
“We chose pea gravel,” Olivia said. “It benefits the dogs because it provides excellent drainage. It’s easy to clean, it reduces mud easier on their paws. So we have less torn paw pads or sore feet from the sharper, jagged rocks that can get compacted in there. And it also helps minimize the presence of fleas and ticks.”
In October, Washington Rock delivered 34 tons of pea gravel for to PPP’s kennel. So far, the pea gravel seems to be working well.
“It’s been really nice to not have flooding back there,” Olivia said cheerfully.
The names of all inmates and service animals mentioned in this article have been changed to protect identities.
Prison Pet Partnership is a nonprofit that relies on donations and fees from services. The Department of Corrections does not fund any part of the program.
If you are interested in donating or volunteering, check out the Act Now section of PPP’s website. In-kind donations like dog food and supplies, including gently used items, are also appreciated.
Washington Rock Quarries is a family-owned business that produces rock, sand, and soil products at Kapowsin Quarry and King Creek Pit in Orting, Washington. Read more about our community involvement on Our Community webpage.