Why These Jailhouse Dogs Rock
Johnstown, Colorado
"And they're off!"

That's the traditional chant of racetrack officials…

"You bet. They die." That's the mantra of protestors as greyhounds fly down the track; their slender bodies seem to stretch for miles as they sprint upwards of 45 mph toward another finish line.

There will be only one lucky winner. And that luck will run out very quickly. Although greyhounds live 12-14 years, the racing careers of successful dogs last only 2-5 years. Greyhounds that out live their monetary value are destroyed.

Others never make it past training, and still others are killed as puppies because they are simply not needed. And for dogs that prove they are fast enough to live, they are subjected to overcrowded kennels, penned up for most of the day. These racing winners are fed putrid D meat as food and often receive poor medical care, if any at all. Then there is the elevated risk of strain and injury from racing.

And for losers? In third world countries, it is the norm to torture dogs that are "losers" after races as a means of cheap entertainment. It is often more cost-effective to hang dogs in order to save the cost of a bullet or on euthanasia drugs. After all, a rope can be used multiple times.

Closer to home at Auburn University in Alabama, ex-racers are often used as lab animals. Because greyhounds are so docile, they are either subjected to medical research or used in labs for dissections.

The huge question is why?

Why do we still endorse a pastime that is so blatantly cruel? Legislative efforts seek to control dog-fighting rings because they are "inhumane." But why haven't we extended that rationale to greyhound racing?

As one greyhound lover said, "It's a horrible thing. I think a lot of people don't really know." And she's right. With an estimate of 5,000-8,000 yearly euthanizations of greyhounds, there are many tragic endings.

Greyhound organizations around the world are working to change racing laws and to protect this gentle giant. But one group really stands out. An extremely dedicated group of greyhound lovers in Colorado, Friends Of Retired Greyhounds, (or FORG), in Colorado, contacted us for help.

One of their greys jumped over a cinderblock wall at her foster home and badly injured her chest. We were delighted to help, of course. But when volunteer, Leanne Toohey, told us of FORG's community work to rehabilitate greys, we had to hear more.

FORG is doing more than just saving the lives of retired greyhounds. This organization has made a surprising difference not just in the lives of greyhounds, but also in the quality of life for society's seemingly least caring human being-the hardened criminal.

Through an unlikely partnership program with Crowley County Correctional Facility (CCCF), FORG works with the Cell Dog program and Unit Manager, Danny Chavez, to help rehabilitate retired greyhounds.

Skittish, frightened and shy, these peaceful animals arrive fresh from the racetrack directly to the door of CCCF. Sheltered from the outside world, they know nothing of windows, doors, mirrors, or stairs. Even houses are foreign. These greys had a more fortunate racetrack existence. They have been kept in air-conditioned kennels with outside walks four or five times a day.

Although greys are extremely people-loving, they have had very little affectionate attention given to them. And play? They have no idea what it means to fetch or have fun.

And strangely enough, that's where the world of the violent inmate and the socially stunted greyhound meet. Neither really has any understanding of what they truly could be. The great distinction is that eight weeks from the time they enter CCCF, the dogs will be given a new life.

Chavez carefully screens applicants for the job. "Inmates have to be infraction free for one year," he said. And they must be serving a longer sentence, even life.

Once an applicant is accepted into the program, there is a two-week trial period. Chavez and Together with FORG president, Lauren Sanders, they carefully monitor how the inmates handle the dogs during this time. If there is any inappropriate behavior, that inmate is immediately removed from the program.

The Cell Dog program has its own unit with 48 inmates, called handlers, participating. Each handler has an assistant handler. At any one time, there can be up to 24 dogs in the program, learning to trust a new world through the training of a convicted felon.

The men who coax these sheltered dogs to explore and revel in their canine nature have never spent time understanding the nature of their own humanity.

So who are they to teach anyone, man or beast, how to become whole?

Note: A March 2005 edition of The Journal Of Correctional Education reported that animal/inmate programs have consistently proven beneficial not only for dogs and inmates but for the overall prison population.

But that's exactly what happens. And on the journey to wholeness, these inmates uncover a piece of their own deeply buried humanity. Each day, dog and handler work and live together. The handler teaches basic dog obedience and socialization skills while the dog looks to his handler for love and affection.

And they get it. Plenty of it.

Chavez works hard to keep handlers from getting too attached to their charges. If he sees it happening, the dog is moved to another handler. Even so, Danny says, "I've seen inmates turn into babies when the dog leaves."

FORG visits the program every 3-4 weeks, talking to the handlers about the dog's progress. "It helps us keep ahead in case there is a problem," FORG volunteer, Lee Rush, told us.

"We do a profile on the dog to find out what kind of family would be good for each dog," she tells us. Lee spends about 15 minutes with each handler assessing the dog's behavior.

But there is a downside to the program. "When I come onto the unit, you can see the fear in the handlers' eyes," Lee told us. "They wonder, 'Is this the day they take my dog away?'"

"And I tell them, 'Not today, guys.' And they perk up. It just breaks your heart," she says sadly.

Lee watched as one 6'6" inmate picked up his dog like a child and cuddled him as the grey cradled his head in the man's neck. It's a profound healing that sparks remarkable growth for both the teacher and the student.

Maybe the nature of these men hasn't truly changed. But there is hope for the world when a violent offender can look into the soft brown eyes of a defenseless dog, and see love reflected back.

Love from the most unlikely people in the world teaches a dog how to enjoy life, to obey basic commands and to embrace their people-friendly nature. Inmates teach greyhounds how to be excellent pets. In the process, hardened criminals undergo a transformation of their own.

They gain the chance to learn parenting skills, to feel successful and proud of their achievement, and to learn valuable vocational and social skills of their own. But the biggest gift they get is the chance to heal their own wounds.

Statistics show that the overall rates of violent prison incidents are much lower with companion animal programs in place. Morale tends to be greater and inmates embrace responsibility for their dogs.

And even though the greyhounds leave the program, the connection is indelible.
"I have inmates that ask me, 'How's my dog?'" Lee said. And she gladly tells them the latest. For some greys, they are adopted. Others are placed in foster homes until an adoption becomes available.

Maybe these offenders have stumbled upon a gift of their own, and in the most restrictive environment in our country. Every eight weeks, they are given an opportunity to explore and reclaim a precious part of their own souls.

Maybe for the first time, but certainly not the last, a troubled man looks into the pleading eyes of a frightened animal and sees his own reflection. But this time, instead of choosing violence, he makes the choice to make a difference.

He decides to give something back to the community and to himself. It's a gift that keeps giving every time a child hugs her greyhound, and he buries his head in her shoulder.

Note: We want to thank the board of FORG for so generously giving their time for this interview. Your passion and dedication to the social recovery of retired greyhounds is truly inspiring. You show us everyday the power of the individual to create change. We also want to thank Marty Fleischacker, Principal, and Danny Chavez, Unit Manager of the Cell Dog program, for allowing us the opportunity to learn more about this cooperative program. The vision your facility has chosen to embrace demonstrates how valuable community involvement can be. Susan Vincent, Staff Writer