Service Dogs trained at Oshkosh prison
The latest episode of Eye on Oshkosh is now online (https://youtu.be/l8fGZm8Wib0).
Host Cheryl Hentz spends the hour talking with Brenda Cirricione, president and
lead trainer of Journey Together Service Dog, Inc., and three of her board
members and/or volunteers for this organization that works with Oshkosh
Correctional Institute inmates to train service dogs for people with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Also making an appearance were five dogs in training, each
of whom lives at the prison with their inmate trainers: Jazz (2-year old Yellow
Lab), Chance (1 and 1/2-year old rescue mix), Echo (5-month old Briard), Dash
(8-month old black German Shepherd) and Frost (10-week old Yellow Lab). The
board members and/or volunteers included: Shari (board member, instructor at
the prison and coordinator of volunteers), Jenny (vice-president of board and
Medical Coordinator), and Cindy (trainer at prison, socializer trainer and
assists with selection of dogs for the program). This program is fascinating
because it involves working with local inmates who are providing a service and
gaining valuable experience in working with and training dogs, who will then go
live with members of the military or others in the community who suffer from
PTSD.
During the hour, the panel discussed what makes a good dog for the program, and who makes a good trainer; what the dogs are capable of doing when fully trained and how long that takes; the difference between service dogs, emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, and companion animals. If you are interested in learning more about the program, making a financial contribution to it, or volunteering with this wonderful group of people and dogs, please visit them at www.journeytogetherservicedog.org OR on Facebook under Journey Together Service Dog Oshkosh.
Eye on Oshkosh thanks Brenda, her husband Brad
(behind-the-scenes dog wrangler), all the ladies and the dogs for making the
trek to our set to make this show possible. We also want to thank the Oshkosh
Correctional Facility and Wisconsin State Prison System for making this
training program and this particular show possible. We understand the
coordination that had to go into getting the dogs transported from the prison
to the set and back again, and we are deeply greatly for that.
As host and producer, I also want to personally thank Scott
at Oshkosh Media and my entire crew tonight of Daryl, Amanda, Nick, Haadi, Ed
and Morgan for their amazing patience, skill and professionalism in putting
together a show that had so many moving parts and components to it this
evening. Well done, everyone!!!
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 8:53 PM
0 comments
