Education Project for Inmates & Canines

Earlier this year, we were approached by the Idaho Department of Corrections to see if we’d be interested in starting a prison dog program. We developed the program over the summer and, in September, began hosting classes for the residents at the Idaho State Correctional Center.

Our first dog, Penny (top left), joined the group in October, and three more dogs have since entered the program: (clockwise from Penny) Bear, Bentley, and Duck. Penny and Bentley were surrendered by local families; Bear and Duck were transferred from an overcrowded Idaho shelter.

Our Education Project for Inmates & Canines pairs dogs in need with trained handlers who will teach them valuable life skills. The handlers attend weekly classes to learn about husbandry, enrichment, learning theory, positive reinforcement training, ethology, data analysis, marketing, and more.

The EPIC trainers focus first on foundational cues and then move on to more advanced skills that are assigned to each dog based on his/her individual history and needs. The teams at ISCC also provide routine medical care, plenty of exercise, and a variety of enrichment activities. They do so much work to support this program and to care for the dogs.

The dogs are absolutely thriving at ISCC, and we are thrilled that EPIC is a way for us to address the needs of our local community and shelter partners. The EPIC Program will expand in the coming months, allowing us to provide education for more dogs and handlers.

This page is currently under construction. Please stay tuned for more updates!