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| NCCF prisoners turn puppies into leaders |
| By messengernews.net |
| Published: 09/28/2009 |
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ROCKWELL CITY - As inmates of North Central Correctional Facility, the offenders there have little freedom or independence. Ironically, many of these offenders spend much of their time working to give others the most independence they've ever had. "It's kind of a paradox," said Rod Haneline, Chief Operating Officer of Leader Dogs for the Blind, Sunday at NCCF's eight annual Puppy Days event, which recognizes the offenders' efforts to train dogs for the sight-impaired. According to Haneline, use of a guide dog "changes the way people perceive their lives," giving the sight-impaired the confidence to live their lives independently. "It changes peoples' lives every day," he said. However, it isn't only the blind that benefit from this program, in which NCCF is the only correctional facility in Iowa to participate. "I can safely say it changed my outlook on life," said Jack Goode, an NCCF offender, who spoke with his leader dog Nikki at his side. Goode said that the program has taught him what it means to give something back, and how it can feel just as good as receiving something. "For me, I'm ashamed to say there was nothing," said Goode, that he had given back. "For these people to trust me with this type of responsibility means a lot to me." Another offender, John Mohr, said he was "grateful to give back after all the damage I've caused." He said he was now raising his second leader dog in the program and it has helped him to open up. Read More. |
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