After 6 months of hard work, we finally got our last bit of approval from the Attorney General and the entire prison system to officially take over the Pups On Parole program. Here’s what we learned along the way:
- Paperwork and bureaucracy go hand in hand, and every single detail counts. There can be an extraordinary amount of hurdles associated with a program like this – from funding to staffing to red tape.
- If you aren’t prepared to work hard, you won’t get it. You must also be prepared to make adjustments and jump when they ask you to jump.
- If you aren’t prepared to learn, grow, and play by a whole new set of rules, you won’t succeed.
Today, after being essentially on hold with 10 dogs for months – one foot in and one foot out the door – we got to bring the news that we were approved, PLUS new dogs to our girls! When I tell you the joy was palpable, I mean it. The inmate handlers were shouting their joy at the sight of the new dogs because they knew what it meant.
It’s been so tough to be at a standstill, unable to help our rescue friends and the dogs we promised to support. We’ve been holding those dogs at our expense for months. But we made it!
We’ve learned our handlers’ strengths and weaknesses, making adjustments and changes based on our observations. We’ve had to learn to communicate simply, clearly, and factually. We’ve become detail-oriented, with eagle eyes that see and hear everything. We’ve also learned to interpret human behavior, understand our position, and moderate our interactions based on multiple factors. We’ve even had to learn the rules of an environment previously foreign to us, except through TV.
Today was magical, watching the overall excitement from staff to inmates as we arrived. The dedication to this program – from staff to inmate handlers, our guiding mentor, our helpful volunteer, to my partner and myself – is truly powerful to experience. Never has it been more apparent how impactful and therapeutic this program is. Here we grow, and now we can start to help our community’s pups in need.