For 18 years, Project POOCH (Positive Opportunities--Obvious Change with Hounds) has paired incarcerated young males with dogs from shelters. The mission of Project POOCH is to teach: responsibility, patience, and compassion for all life.
The youth work with their dogs daily teaching positive reinforcement so that the dogs can pass the Canine Good Citizen test before being adopted out to the public. In the process, the youth learn about themselves and how to be good citizens when they return to society.
Over the years, Project POOCH has helped youth transition from incarceration back into everyday life and aided in helping them become responsible, active members within their communities. We are proud to say that a former POOCH youth joined the military and is now serving his country in Kuwait. He says: "POOCH was truly a life changer for me, thank you for the support over the years.”
Teaching youth to take care of, and work with the shelter dogs, provides both dog and human with a positive experience; in some cases the first time either might have experienced unconditional love! As a result of this pairing we find that the feeling of unconditional love stays with the youth when they leave behind a life of incarceration. Another former youth frequently asks for a visit from the dog he trained while in the POOCH program.
A random study on 100 of our former youth showed zero recidivism. Our mission is to save ONE dog and ONE youth at a time!!! With patience and compassion we will continue working with both in the years to come!!
Bowe aka. Splatt – English Pointer
Bowe was found wandering as a stray on the streets of Riverton, Utah. In May 2011, he was picked up by the Riverton City Animal Control. The facility is a small animal shelter that caters to a town of about 38,000 people. Bowe came to be with Amara Christenson and the team at Riverton Animal Control and stayed with them for nearly 2 months. During that time Bowe became a favorite of the workers’ and volunteers there.
As the months rolled by, sweet Bowe was not finding a home, so Amara sent an e-mail blast to all of her contacts and it was Amanda from Amelia’s Angels Rescue who forwarded us the e-mail. A transport of eight other dogs were being brought from Utah to Seattle, Washington within a few days and would be picked up by another Animal Rescue group based out of British Columbia, so we all had to act fast!! This transport was being organized by two very dedicated ladies from Tooele Animal Outreach Dog Rescue, Denise and Marci. Denise and Marci had never done a transportation trip before and this was their first time. They were planning on leaving Utah on a late Friday and being in Seattle area by Saturday afternoon. Using their own personal funds along with a few donations that they had received, they set out on their long journey. Project POOCH coordinated with Tooele to have one of our volunteers pick up Bowe in Seattle and bring him into our program.
Bowe has completed our program and has found a loving home with a family who adore him. He has a new brother that is a German Shorthair by the name of Elvis, and they are inseparable!!! Bowe has become a permanent resident of the State of Oregon with his new family and is healthy, happy, and thriving.
Links:
My son is currently in your Project POOCH program. I just wanted to tell you that you and your program are such a blessing. I know in my heart that because of you and Project POOCH, my son is very happy and I know how much he loves dogs. When he left home to do his time we had 3 dogs, and I know being able to be around dogs helps him feel like he is not wasting his time while incarcerated. I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you and all the love you have for the dogs that are lost, forgotten, and abused. The love you have for the boys, and giving them a chance and not giving up on them as well, when others have. Knowing my son is so happy in your program makes it a little easier out here while I am waiting for him to come home. Thank you so much!!
Links:
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating or by subscribing to this project's RSS feed.
Promote This Project On Your Site
Get Updates via EmailProjects on globalgiving.org undergo compliance checks to ensure they have a bona fide charitable purpose and meet applicable laws relating to international philanthropy. Organizations listed as partners do not necessarily endorse or support any particular project listed on globalgiving.org. The GlobalGiving Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization (EIN: 30-0108263).
GlobalGiving
1023 15th Street, NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 232-5784 Fax: (202) 315-2558
Contact us
