thedrifter
02-23-08, 11:38 AM
Brig program helps the wounded
AMANDA HICKEY
2008-02-23 00:48:00
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Adam and Eve are on their way to making a difference in the lives of wounded Marines.
The two dogs - along with three more, Dixon, Roxy and Joshua - are part of the Carolina Canines Military Prison Service Dog Training Program at the brig aboard Camp Lejeune. It's the first time prisoners at Camp Lejeune have taken part in such a program.
The dogs are in the process of being trained by prisoners to do 70 tasks to assist a person with a disability, including retrieving dropped objects, pulling wheelchairs, opening doors, carrying items, providing physical support for mobility and transfers to and from wheelchairs, and dressing and undressing, according to a press release provided by Camp Lejeune public affairs.
The dogs are also making a difference in the prisoners' lives.
"It's an honor (to be in the program), because I have a couple acquaintances who were injured in Iraq," said one dog trainer, whose name could not be released. "It's gratifying."
The dogs stay with their trainers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and sleep in a crate that is next to the trainer's bed.
"It's almost like having a partner," the trainer said. "It's great. I look forward to playing with him."
The trainers not only teach their canine partners but learn from them as well.
"(I'm) learning patience, learning to think outside the box," he said.
The trainers will also be there the day they say goodbye when their dog graduates from the program.
"It's going to be a little sad. ... I'm sure he'll be great. He's a good dog," he said, noting that this is the first dog he has had since he was 13 years old.
For Lance Cpl. Jeff St. Jean, Carolina Canines for Service coordinator, the program gives the prisoners a way to give back.
"(The best part is) knowing that they trained a dog for a wounded Marine," he said.
The program is being used as a reward for long-term prisoners who stay out of trouble, St. Jean said.
"Other prisoners see them playing with dogs and change their ways to get in the program," he said.
The prisoners must be able to participate for up to a year, according to information from Carolina Canines for Service. They must also "be compliant with educational and substance abuse programs and possess an overall positive institutional record and attitude."
They must be recommended by the prison psychologist and cannot have a history of sexual assault or abuse, violence, additional charges or escape attempts since incarceration.
The dogs, St. Jean said, will take about nine months to a year to train.
The prisoners demonstrated what they and their dogs have been working on, showing visitors commands like down, sit, stay and retrieve. The dogs are also trained to lie under a chair, back up, spin and touch light switches and handicapped buttons near a door.
Carolina Canines for Service has wanted to do a prison program for several years, Carolina Canines co-founder Rick Hairston said, noting that they also wanted to use "the military manpower that wasn't in service."
Currently, 25 percent of their dogs go to veterans. The civilian waiting list is two and a half to four years, he said.
Their main option, he said, was to get more dogs in training.
Service dogs, which are valued at $38,000 each, are placed with the disabled for free, according to information from Carolina Canines for Service.
Since its first service dog was placed in December 1999, 26 disabled people have received a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service, the information says.
People with functional limitations due to amputation, spinal cord injury, degenerative disk disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, heart conditions, myasthenia gravis and seizure disorders associated with mobility limitations are eligible for a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service.
A sixth dog, a golden retriever named Bailey, is waiting to enter the program. Bailey's owner had to give him up when he deployed to the Middle East.
Hairston hopes to have two dogs, Adam and Eve, ready to be placed in about six months, with most graduations from the program in 12 to 14 months.
Contact Jacksonville and Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at ahickey@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8463.
Ellie
AMANDA HICKEY
2008-02-23 00:48:00
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Adam and Eve are on their way to making a difference in the lives of wounded Marines.
The two dogs - along with three more, Dixon, Roxy and Joshua - are part of the Carolina Canines Military Prison Service Dog Training Program at the brig aboard Camp Lejeune. It's the first time prisoners at Camp Lejeune have taken part in such a program.
The dogs are in the process of being trained by prisoners to do 70 tasks to assist a person with a disability, including retrieving dropped objects, pulling wheelchairs, opening doors, carrying items, providing physical support for mobility and transfers to and from wheelchairs, and dressing and undressing, according to a press release provided by Camp Lejeune public affairs.
The dogs are also making a difference in the prisoners' lives.
"It's an honor (to be in the program), because I have a couple acquaintances who were injured in Iraq," said one dog trainer, whose name could not be released. "It's gratifying."
The dogs stay with their trainers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and sleep in a crate that is next to the trainer's bed.
"It's almost like having a partner," the trainer said. "It's great. I look forward to playing with him."
The trainers not only teach their canine partners but learn from them as well.
"(I'm) learning patience, learning to think outside the box," he said.
The trainers will also be there the day they say goodbye when their dog graduates from the program.
"It's going to be a little sad. ... I'm sure he'll be great. He's a good dog," he said, noting that this is the first dog he has had since he was 13 years old.
For Lance Cpl. Jeff St. Jean, Carolina Canines for Service coordinator, the program gives the prisoners a way to give back.
"(The best part is) knowing that they trained a dog for a wounded Marine," he said.
The program is being used as a reward for long-term prisoners who stay out of trouble, St. Jean said.
"Other prisoners see them playing with dogs and change their ways to get in the program," he said.
The prisoners must be able to participate for up to a year, according to information from Carolina Canines for Service. They must also "be compliant with educational and substance abuse programs and possess an overall positive institutional record and attitude."
They must be recommended by the prison psychologist and cannot have a history of sexual assault or abuse, violence, additional charges or escape attempts since incarceration.
The dogs, St. Jean said, will take about nine months to a year to train.
The prisoners demonstrated what they and their dogs have been working on, showing visitors commands like down, sit, stay and retrieve. The dogs are also trained to lie under a chair, back up, spin and touch light switches and handicapped buttons near a door.
Carolina Canines for Service has wanted to do a prison program for several years, Carolina Canines co-founder Rick Hairston said, noting that they also wanted to use "the military manpower that wasn't in service."
Currently, 25 percent of their dogs go to veterans. The civilian waiting list is two and a half to four years, he said.
Their main option, he said, was to get more dogs in training.
Service dogs, which are valued at $38,000 each, are placed with the disabled for free, according to information from Carolina Canines for Service.
Since its first service dog was placed in December 1999, 26 disabled people have received a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service, the information says.
People with functional limitations due to amputation, spinal cord injury, degenerative disk disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, heart conditions, myasthenia gravis and seizure disorders associated with mobility limitations are eligible for a service dog from Carolina Canines for Service.
A sixth dog, a golden retriever named Bailey, is waiting to enter the program. Bailey's owner had to give him up when he deployed to the Middle East.
Hairston hopes to have two dogs, Adam and Eve, ready to be placed in about six months, with most graduations from the program in 12 to 14 months.
Contact Jacksonville and Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at ahickey@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8463.
Ellie