Beautiful New Book -- Puppies Behind Bars: Training Puppies to Change Lives


Posted on Oct 24, 2007
By Glenn Close

Comments(3) The excellent Puppies Behind Bars is the dog charity I've selected to benefit when people make purchases through my favorite products “widget”. Puppies Behind Bars pairs eight-week-old puppies with prison inmates, who train and live with the dogs 24/7 for 18 months. When they graduate, the dogs take jobs as service animals, assisting the handicapped with the basic tasks we sometimes take for granted - such as turning the house lights on and off - or working in explosives detection all over the world, from New York City to The Vatican to Iraq. There's no more powerful celebration of the canine-human bond than this unique training process, in which so many lives are permanently, positively touched by the magical partnerships that form between dogs and their teachers.

This month, PBB marks its tenth anniversary. As part of the celebration, the group is the subject of a new book that should top every dog lover's book list: Puppies Behind Bars: Training Puppies to Change Lives. With 150 unforgettable color images, photographers Christopher Makos and Paul Solberg have captured the communication, the respect, and the unconditional love that bonds inmates to the dogs in their care. This is a breathtaking volume that has pride of place on my coffee table (it's perfect for the night-table too, and makes a great gift). It offers profoundly moving visual reminders of something we all know: That gazing into the eyes of a dog can make almost anything better. Glenn. 
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Comments
I will be going to the book store ASAP to pick this book up! I have had dogs as family members all my life, can't imagine a house as a home without. I am currently pursuing my special ed endorsement and while doing research for a paper, I stumbled upon a site about therapy dogs and children with disabilities. As we all know, dogs can break barriers that humans cannot. When a child was asked why he liked reading to dogs, he responded," because they don't laugh at me when I make mistakes, I feel safe"(Paws for reading program). A dream come true I say. What a perfect fit for me, I can bring my dog to work, and make a difference in a childs life. Chelsea, my Golden, has been my sunny day for the past 15yrs. Because of her age, she would not be a candadit for the program. I had no intention of adding any new family members at this point, I wanted her to be the queen. Down the road, I was going to rescue a golden and put my plan into action, training for therapy dog. What can I say? Sometimes things happen sooner that you expect them to. I recently rescued a female yellow lab, almost 3 yrs.old, Nilla. Actually, she rescued me. It was one of those situations that can only be described as Divine Intervention. I was so worried that Chelsea would feel like she was being replaced. They are getting along just fine, Chelsea hasn't skipped a beat. My friends believe, as do I, that everything happens for a reason. They know how I feel about Chelsea and that I would never have gone looking for another dog. However, the situation presented itself(I know her previous owners and their situation), I was unexplicably compelled to go get her when I heard she ended up in a kill shelter. Our ending up together is a leap of faith, on both our parts... Another great book: Love Heels Tales from Canine Companions for Idependence, by; Patricia Dibsie MGH
Posted By Mary Grace
on Nov 11, 2007
I"m a Correctional Officer in the State of Texas. We too have a Puppy Program like the one shown on the Ophra Show . Our Program is called Patriot Paws and is done by Female Offenders in the Gatesville Texas area. I think it's a great way for the offenders to give back to others. I firmly believe that these programs help these Offenders get different perspectives on live, and it makes a bad situation more positive for them. Keep up the good work
Posted By Bettina
on May 15, 2009
I lovve the puppy behind bard program. We are struggling financially right now, but I have bookmarked the page for when/if we rebound. LOVE the pgogram!!!
Posted By Kathy
on Aug 7, 2009
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Welcome to LIVELY LICKS: Profiles of Dogs and their People.
I hope that you will be entertained, comforted and inspired by the people and dogs that I have the privilege of featuring on this blog. Since starting it over a year and a half ago, it has pulled me into an incredible journey. Besides being able to celebrate some of my wonderful friends and the profound bond they have with their dogs, LIVELY LICKS has introduced me to the world of avalanche dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, service dogs for our wounded warriors and dogs in need of rescue and adoption. I have been inspired by the selfless dedication of the people who run grassroots shelters as well as urban care and control centers. I have been deeply moved by their stories in which dogs heal and empower their humans. Those of us who have dogs, know how much they enhance our quality of life with their unquestioning loyalty and unconditional love. There are an infinite number of stories to tell, so I hope you will stay with me as I continue to explore and discover and delight in the journey.

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