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Botetourt’s Correctional Companions Program
About Correctional Companions
We are proud to participate in Botetourt Correctional Center’s Correctional Companions Program. The Correctional Companions Program changes the lives of dogs and people. As a dog lover, you know first hand the effect a dog can have on a human’s physical, emotional and mental state. Working with BARK dogs gives sixteen prison inmates the opportunity for therapeutic rehabilitation while learning to love unconditionally. The dogs learn skills and behaviors that will help them find and remain in a forever home. It’s truly a second chance for all involved.
How the Program Works
Inmates are selected on the basis of their behavior while serving their sentences and their demonstrated desire to participate in the program. The dogs are selected for the program based on temperament, personality and who might greatly benefit from the daily individualized socialization, attention and affection.
Two dogs are housed in each of the Center’s four dormitories and two inmates are responsible for each dog. Under the supervision of correctional staff members, inmates train and socialize the dogs in their care and maintain diaries on the dog’s progress.
What Do the Dogs Learn?
Each dog is house trained, crate trained, taught basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, lay down and speak, and tricks such as roll over, bang! dead dog, pray, right paw & left paw...Just as important, they learn that humans are friends they can count on for leadership and love.
Who are our Correctional Companions Dogs? Click on the pictures below to read about the dogs’ personalities and their training progress. |
