Prison, Dog Training and Three Communities: Walls are not Solid Community Separators

In early October, I helped to celebrate the progress of service dogs being trained by inmates at the Franklin Correctional Center (FCC) near Bunn, NC.  The 18 men are trainers in At Both Ends of the Leash (ABEL), part of the work of Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws (EENP), a Carrboro, NC nonprofit that matches service dogs with people with special needs or disabilities.

EENP pups-in-training live at FCC for about 18 months, from the time they are five-months old until they are ready to be partnered with a client.  Two EENP clients were part of the October event, but will actually receive their dogs on Nov. 4th as part of formal “graduation” held at the Carrboro Century Center.

I had many powerful reactions to the demonstration of skill, and talking with the ABEL trainers.

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