PAWS dog training program completes fourth year

Michael F. Easley Governor		Theodis Beck Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release:	Contact: Mike Stater
Date: Oct. 25, 2007	Phone: 919 -716-3700

PAWS dog training program completes fourth year McCAIN – Five dogs will make up the fourth graduating class of the Puppies Assisting With Sight (PAWS) program, a joint effort between the North Carolina Department of Correction and Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. Graduation ceremonies will be held Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 11:30 a.m. at McCain Correctional Hospital near Raeford. McCain Correctional Hospital provides correctional staff, inmates and the space for the training while Southeastern provides the puppies and training expertise. The puppies arrived at the prison a year and a half ago and the inmates have been teaching the puppies basic obedience skills and community socialization. Prison administrators selected inmates who meet strict criteria. They must have no convictions for sexual offense or animal cruelty and no violations of prison rules for an extended period. The dogs will be returning soon to Southeastern Guide Dogs home office in Florida for training as guide dogs for the blind. When that training is complete, Southeastern will partner the trained dogs with blind individuals at no cost. McCain now has a full-time dog obedience instructor at the facility in a cooperative program with Sandhills Community College. # # #