Through Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions and in partnership with Greyhound Advancement Center, (www.greyhoundadvancementcenter.org), we are able to offer for adoption a limited number of prison-trained greyhounds. We sponsor the greyhounds in the training program and pay the associated expenses. Our greyhounds are trained by specially selected and trained inmates at Hardee Correctional Institution Work Camp (HCI) near Wauchula, Florida and by inmate trainers at Central Florida Reception Center (CFRC) in Orlando. During each ten week session, our greyhounds are trained in basic obedience, with an emphasis on the greyhounds having a level of training to allow them to be certified as therapy dogs. Some of the greyhounds are also trained to become service dogs. The prison trained greyhounds make excellent all-around family companions. To date, there have been 675 greyhounds who have been through the GAC prison training program.
Each inmate selected as a trainer receives extensive information on the care and training of greyhounds. Inmates with special knowledge and training serve as our Vet Techs to assist with any medical issues that may arise. We also have the services of a very good veterinarians near the prisons in case any of the greyhounds become ill or injured. Our dedicated volunteers visit the prisons weekly to monitor the training and take care of any issues or needs of the dogs that may arise. During hot weather, the greyhounds are trained in an indoor, air conditioned area. There are also fenced outdoor areas for exercise and play time. Trainers are assigned to each greyhound. The greyhounds stay with their trainers 24 hours a day, in dorms with many other inmates or in cells with their trainers. They are around other inmates and in this way, they become very socialized and learn to be around many different people. There are many more inmates wanting to become trainers than there are slots in the program, so that the greyhound’s training and care continues even if one of their trainers is released or not available. The GAC training program has been certified by the State of Florida as a vocational program for the inmates. That means that each trainer can earn basic, intermediate, and advance training certifications as dog trainers. This is not only an accomplishment for them, but also helps them to learn skills that are valuable for gaining employment when they are released.
We select the greyhounds for each training session, have all their veterinary work done (spay/neuter, dental, all vaccines, microchip), and deliver them to HCI and CFRC. The greyhounds are then taught all of their basic commands: heel, sit, lie down, stay, come on recall, finish, and go to place (their bed or mat), and wait at the door. The greyhounds are also taught to walk on slick floors, walk up and down stairs, jump up onto a platform (to simulate jumping into an automobile), and not to go out an open door until their trainer signals them to do so. The trainers become very knowledgeable and often teach their greyhounds some fun things in addition to the above commands. Some greyhounds have learned to play with a soccer ball, catch a tennis ball or Frisbee in the air, find a treat that is hidden, learned to play dead, shake hands (paws), bow, roll over and play dead, go into a crate and close the door, whisper, speak, and sometimes even to “read”.
Upon graduation from the training program, the greyhound will be able to complete, with their new owners, the requirements for the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification. They will also have learned the skills necessary to become a Certified Therapy Dog. If you are planning on doing animal assisted therapy with your greyhound, a prison trained greyhound is definitely the way to go.
At graduation after every session, all greyhounds demonstrate their skills, so you know that your greyhound has mastered all of their basic obedience commands. At graduation, one greyhound is chosen each session as “Top Dog”, other greyhounds are chosen as “most improved”, and the trainers are each recognized for their achievement in training their greyhounds. With permission from the prison, adopters are invited to see their greyhound graduate and to meet the inmate trainers.
The mere presence of the greyhounds has made a huge difference at HCI and CFRC. The unconditional love the greyhounds give, as well as their calm and gentle demeanor greatly improves the morale at the entire prison, even for the inmates not in the greyhound program, and for the prison staff as well. The trainers have something positive and important to do with their time, they learn team work and responsibility, as well as learning viable job skills for re-entry when their prison terms are completed. Some of the trainers who have completed their prison terms have been employed in positions where they can continue to work with and train dogs. The greyhound program is a huge benefit not only to the prison facility, but to the community and to the adopter, who will receive a well-socialized and well-trained greyhound. It is truly a win-win situation for all involved.
The prison trained greyhounds are listed on our website under “adoptable greyhounds”. Since we have to provide dog food, medications, heartworm and flea prevention, and all other supplies for the greyhounds while they are in training, the adoption fee for the prison trained dogs is higher than for our other dogs. When you attend graduation and witness for yourself how smart and well-trained your greyhound is, I know you will feel that the adoption fee is well worth the additional cost. When you have chosen a prison trained greyhound, we will ask you to submit a 1/2 of their adoption fee, then the other half prior to graduation from the prison training program. Greyhound prison dogs are much in demand, and are quickly chosen for adoption. If all the prison trained greyhounds for a particular session have been chosen, please let us know of your interest so you can have a choice of the available greyhounds in the next training session.
GRADUATION DAY
Graduation Day is the day that you can take your greyhound home. It is an important, but bittersweet time for the greyhounds and their trainers. The trainers have the satisfaction of knowing that their greyhound has gone on to a great life as a pet, but it is difficult for them to give up the dogs that have meant so much to them for the past several weeks. We make sure that new greyhounds come in that same day so the trainers have a new dog to work with and love.
To give you an idea of what the greyhounds learn, please take a few minutes and view this short video of one of the trainers at Hardee Correctional Institution demonstrating his greyhound at graduation.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Volunteer to help with promoting BAGA, GAC, and the greyhound prison program at various events in the area, obtaining silent auction items, fund raising, and donating items needed for the program. Used martingale collars and leashes, mats and dog beds for the greyhounds, and fleece fabric to make greyhound coats. Shown below are photos taken at graduations. You will notice the mortar boards the greyhounds wear when they graduate. They were made by the inmates. During the winter months, the inmates also make fleece coats for their greyhounds, using fabric donated to the program.
