Mutual rehabilitation: inmates and shelter dogs socializing each other | Jen Deane | TEDxFSCJ

dogs save lives now you may be sitting

dogs save lives now you may be sitting here thinking dogs don’t save lives but

here thinking dogs don’t save lives but

here thinking dogs don’t save lives but they do tales program is proof that dogs

they do tales program is proof that dogs

they do tales program is proof that dogs save lives and that human lives are

save lives and that human lives are

save lives and that human lives are saved every single day tails is an

saved every single day tails is an

saved every single day tails is an acronym it stands for teaching animals

acronym it stands for teaching animals

acronym it stands for teaching animals and inmates life skills picture in your

and inmates life skills picture in your

and inmates life skills picture in your mind and animal shelter an animal

mind and animal shelter an animal

mind and animal shelter an animal shelter filled with cages there’s a dog

shelter filled with cages there’s a dog

shelter filled with cages there’s a dog in every single cage some dogs are nice

in every single cage some dogs are nice

in every single cage some dogs are nice some dogs are not so nice some bite some

some dogs are not so nice some bite some

some dogs are not so nice some bite some bark some have no idea how to interact

bark some have no idea how to interact

bark some have no idea how to interact in society now let’s look at people

in society now let’s look at people

in society now let’s look at people people who’ve lost their way people that

people who’ve lost their way people that

people who’ve lost their way people that metaphorically bite bark people that

metaphorically bite bark people that

metaphorically bite bark people that have been written off by the outside

have been written off by the outside

have been written off by the outside world and are in a prison the people

world and are in a prison the people

world and are in a prison the people that don’t know how to interact in

that don’t know how to interact in

that don’t know how to interact in society tails brings the inmates and the

society tails brings the inmates and the

society tails brings the inmates and the dogs together in this program everybody

dogs together in this program everybody

dogs together in this program everybody deserves a second chance

deserves a second chance

deserves a second chance and tails provides that second chance

and tails provides that second chance

and tails provides that second chance now in the fall of 2015

now in the fall of 2015

now in the fall of 2015 tails was in trouble it was broken

tails was in trouble it was broken

tails was in trouble it was broken dogs needed to eat there was no food

dogs needed to eat there was no food

dogs needed to eat there was no food dogs needed medical care there was no

dogs needed medical care there was no

dogs needed medical care there was no money for medical care we knew the

money for medical care we knew the

money for medical care we knew the potential that the tails program had so

potential that the tails program had so

potential that the tails program had so we agreed to take over the program now

we agreed to take over the program now

we agreed to take over the program now as much as we do how much potential the

as much as we do how much potential the

as much as we do how much potential the program had we also knew we had to be

program had we also knew we had to be

program had we also knew we had to be realistic so we chose partners we chose

realistic so we chose partners we chose

realistic so we chose partners we chose partners carefully we looked for

partners carefully we looked for

partners carefully we looked for partners that had similar ideas and

partners that had similar ideas and

partners that had similar ideas and beliefs as we did partners that had

beliefs as we did partners that had

beliefs as we did partners that had resources that we didn’t have

resources that we didn’t have

resources that we didn’t have fortunately two animal welfare

fortunately two animal welfare

fortunately two animal welfare organizations stepped up and agreed to

organizations stepped up and agreed to

organizations stepped up and agreed to support tails financially the inmates

support tails financially the inmates

support tails financially the inmates and the dogs had their short-term

and the dogs had their short-term

and the dogs had their short-term solution for the tails program again we

solution for the tails program again we

solution for the tails program again we chose partners extremely carefully we

chose partners extremely carefully we

chose partners extremely carefully we were picky dogs and the tails program go

were picky dogs and the tails program go

were picky dogs and the tails program go through a very

through a very

through a very specialized assessment process the

specialized assessment process the

specialized assessment process the assessment was written by a canine

assessment was written by a canine

assessment was written by a canine expert we do this to ensure that the

expert we do this to ensure that the

expert we do this to ensure that the dogs are a good match for the people

dogs are a good match for the people

dogs are a good match for the people once the dogs passed the assessment they

once the dogs passed the assessment they

once the dogs passed the assessment they go to prison this is where their journey

go to prison this is where their journey

go to prison this is where their journey begins every day 9,000 animals are

begins every day 9,000 animals are

begins every day 9,000 animals are killed in shelters across the United

killed in shelters across the United

killed in shelters across the United States the three main reasons that they

States the three main reasons that they

States the three main reasons that they end up in shelters are training and

end up in shelters are training and

end up in shelters are training and behavior related those three issues are

behavior related those three issues are

behavior related those three issues are resolved through the tails program

resolved through the tails program

resolved through the tails program sometimes all dogs need are a second

sometimes all dogs need are a second

sometimes all dogs need are a second chance just like sometimes all people

chance just like sometimes all people

chance just like sometimes all people need are a second chance once the dogs

need are a second chance once the dogs

need are a second chance once the dogs pass their assessment and go into the

pass their assessment and go into the

pass their assessment and go into the program then we look at our inmates the

program then we look at our inmates the

program then we look at our inmates the inmates go through a very exhaustive

inmates go through a very exhaustive

inmates go through a very exhaustive process they have to apply to be apart

process they have to apply to be apart

process they have to apply to be apart and there’s a waiting list at every

and there’s a waiting list at every

and there’s a waiting list at every single institution that we have tails

single institution that we have tails

single institution that we have tails through they apply to be apart there are

through they apply to be apart there are

through they apply to be apart there are certain things that will disqualify them

certain things that will disqualify them

certain things that will disqualify them from participation violent crimes

from participation violent crimes

from participation violent crimes domestic violence are an automatic DQ DQ

domestic violence are an automatic DQ DQ

domestic violence are an automatic DQ DQ not Dairy Queen

not Dairy Queen

not Dairy Queen but disqualification right also any

but disqualification right also any

but disqualification right also any behavior issues or certain behavior

behavior issues or certain behavior

behavior issues or certain behavior issues while they’re in the prison would

issues while they’re in the prison would

issues while they’re in the prison would disqualify them from the program as well

disqualify them from the program as well

disqualify them from the program as well the inmates receive training prior to

the inmates receive training prior to

the inmates receive training prior to them receiving their dogs they go into a

them receiving their dogs they go into a

them receiving their dogs they go into a classroom they learn what to expect for

classroom they learn what to expect for

classroom they learn what to expect for their dog and they learn what we expect

their dog and they learn what we expect

their dog and they learn what we expect from them once they receive that

from them once they receive that

from them once they receive that training they meet their dog there are

training they meet their dog there are

training they meet their dog there are two and a half million people in a

two and a half million people in a

two and a half million people in a prison system across the United States

650,000 ex-offenders are released every

650,000 ex-offenders are released every single day why wouldn’t we teach them

single day why wouldn’t we teach them

single day why wouldn’t we teach them the skills that they need to be

the skills that they need to be

the skills that they need to be successful in society skills like

successful in society skills like

successful in society skills like empathy responsibility teamwork

empathy responsibility teamwork

empathy responsibility teamwork resolving issues without violence these

resolving issues without violence these

resolving issues without violence these are all issues that tails resolves for

are all issues that tails resolves for

are all issues that tails resolves for the inmates we teach them how to be

the inmates we teach them how to be

the inmates we teach them how to be better members of society

better members of society

better members of society dogs and shelters are like kids and

dogs and shelters are like kids and

dogs and shelters are like kids and nature sometimes they run amok right so

nature sometimes they run amok right so

nature sometimes they run amok right so sometimes they need they lack proper

sometimes they need they lack proper

sometimes they need they lack proper supervision they don’t know how to

supervision they don’t know how to

supervision they don’t know how to interact it might be something as simple

interact it might be something as simple

interact it might be something as simple as learning how not to jump on a table

as learning how not to jump on a table

as learning how not to jump on a table or jump on people tales teaches these

or jump on people tales teaches these

or jump on people tales teaches these dogs those skills and the inmates are an

dogs those skills and the inmates are an

dogs those skills and the inmates are an integral part of teaching the dogs the

integral part of teaching the dogs the

integral part of teaching the dogs the skills that they need to survive

skills that they need to survive

skills that they need to survive the dogs are immersed into a into an

the dogs are immersed into a into an

the dogs are immersed into a into an area where they receive love they

area where they receive love they

area where they receive love they receive care they’re in the prison to

receive care they’re in the prison to

receive care they’re in the prison to learn how to survive these are dogs that

learn how to survive these are dogs that

learn how to survive these are dogs that are at risk of euthanasia we don’t take

are at risk of euthanasia we don’t take

are at risk of euthanasia we don’t take dogs that are that are safe we take dogs

dogs that are that are safe we take dogs

dogs that are that are safe we take dogs that need our help the most so these are

that need our help the most so these are

that need our help the most so these are dogs on death’s door literally that we

dogs on death’s door literally that we

dogs on death’s door literally that we take these this program saves Souls I’ve

take these this program saves Souls I’ve

take these this program saves Souls I’ve seen dogs so scared that they won’t move

seen dogs so scared that they won’t move

seen dogs so scared that they won’t move I’ve taken them out of their kennels and

I’ve taken them out of their kennels and

I’ve taken them out of their kennels and move them out because they couldn’t get

move them out because they couldn’t get

move them out because they couldn’t get out they were so paralyzed with fear

out they were so paralyzed with fear

out they were so paralyzed with fear these same dogs once they go through the

these same dogs once they go through the

these same dogs once they go through the program

program

program are confident they’re happy their tails

are confident they’re happy their tails

are confident they’re happy their tails are up their heads are up same thing

are up their heads are up same thing

are up their heads are up same thing with the eating with the inmates we’ve

with the eating with the inmates we’ve

with the eating with the inmates we’ve seen inmates go from having a chip on

seen inmates go from having a chip on

seen inmates go from having a chip on their shoulders to being loving happy

their shoulders to being loving happy

their shoulders to being loving happy people one such inmate whose name will

people one such inmate whose name will

people one such inmate whose name will call John wrote a letter recently and

call John wrote a letter recently and

call John wrote a letter recently and stated that he hated the world when he

stated that he hated the world when he

stated that he hated the world when he first got into the prison system and

first got into the prison system and

first got into the prison system and I’ll quote unbeknownst to me a dog would

I’ll quote unbeknownst to me a dog would

I’ll quote unbeknownst to me a dog would change my life he taught me how to be a

change my life he taught me how to be a

change my life he taught me how to be a loving happy person it is because of

loving happy person it is because of

loving happy person it is because of this dog that my transformation began

this dog that my transformation began

this dog that my transformation began and I’m the man I am today he’s out of

and I’m the man I am today he’s out of

and I’m the man I am today he’s out of prison and he’s doing really well

prison and he’s doing really well

prison and he’s doing really well and he credits that to one dog pretty

and he credits that to one dog pretty

and he credits that to one dog pretty good pretty good

good pretty good

good pretty good so so a a story that I want to bring up

so so a a story that I want to bring up

so so a a story that I want to bring up is is a particular dog it is

is is a particular dog it is

is is a particular dog it is heartbreaking to know of a dog that’s

heartbreaking to know of a dog that’s

heartbreaking to know of a dog that’s been abused sugar mama

been abused sugar mama

been abused sugar mama there she is she was rescued from a

there she is she was rescued from a

there she is she was rescued from a dogfighting ring and she needed

dogfighting ring and she needed

dogfighting ring and she needed extensive spinal surgery she had two

extensive spinal surgery she had two

extensive spinal surgery she had two herniated discs in her spine and had to

herniated discs in her spine and had to

herniated discs in her spine and had to be it operated on by a neurologist it

be it operated on by a neurologist it

be it operated on by a neurologist it was a very expensive and extensive

was a very expensive and extensive

was a very expensive and extensive surgery but she needed it to physically

surgery but she needed it to physically

surgery but she needed it to physically survive she needed her trainer to

survive she needed her trainer to

survive she needed her trainer to emotionally survive after sugar mama had

emotionally survive after sugar mama had

emotionally survive after sugar mama had her surgery and her recovery we chose to

her surgery and her recovery we chose to

her surgery and her recovery we chose to put her in the tails program it was the

put her in the tails program it was the

put her in the tails program it was the right decision it was the only decision

right decision it was the only decision

right decision it was the only decision sugar mama

sugar mama

sugar mama met her trainer Joe in the prison now

met her trainer Joe in the prison now

met her trainer Joe in the prison now Joe was a hardened criminal he’d been in

Joe was a hardened criminal he’d been in

Joe was a hardened criminal he’d been in the prison system for 15 years 15 years

the prison system for 15 years 15 years

the prison system for 15 years 15 years and this is Joe by the way 15 years in

and this is Joe by the way 15 years in

and this is Joe by the way 15 years in the system and Joe had never known love

the system and Joe had never known love

the system and Joe had never known love until he met his dog Joe decided that

until he met his dog Joe decided that

until he met his dog Joe decided that this if this dog could forgive

this if this dog could forgive

this if this dog could forgive everything that happened to her and be

everything that happened to her and be

everything that happened to her and be happy and trusting then so could Joe in

happy and trusting then so could Joe in

happy and trusting then so could Joe in December

December

December Joe will leave the prison he’s taking my

Joe will leave the prison he’s taking my

Joe will leave the prison he’s taking my cry he’s taking his dog with him

I’ll never forget when he when he asked

I’ll never forget when he when he asked me about adopting her he said with tears

me about adopting her he said with tears

me about adopting her he said with tears in his eyes miss Jen sugar mama changed

in his eyes miss Jen sugar mama changed

in his eyes miss Jen sugar mama changed my life she’s the first time I felt

my life she’s the first time I felt

my life she’s the first time I felt loved please let me take her with me I

loved please let me take her with me I

loved please let me take her with me I will love her forever of course I said

will love her forever of course I said

will love her forever of course I said yes

and by the way sugar mama is the most

and by the way sugar mama is the most loyal dog on the face of the earth I

loyal dog on the face of the earth I

loyal dog on the face of the earth I promise you I have to tell him not to

promise you I have to tell him not to

promise you I have to tell him not to carry her everywhere yeah but he again

carry her everywhere yeah but he again

carry her everywhere yeah but he again he gets out in December and his dog will

he gets out in December and his dog will

he gets out in December and his dog will be going with him after 15 years Joe

be going with him after 15 years Joe

be going with him after 15 years Joe became the person that his dog thought

became the person that his dog thought

became the person that his dog thought he was and that’s the chance that we

he was and that’s the chance that we

he was and that’s the chance that we give to inmates they get to be the

give to inmates they get to be the

give to inmates they get to be the person that their dog thinks they are

person that their dog thinks they are

person that their dog thinks they are you know for a lot of these guys they’ve

you know for a lot of these guys they’ve

you know for a lot of these guys they’ve never known love before they’ve never

never known love before they’ve never

never known love before they’ve never known how to care for another individual

known how to care for another individual

known how to care for another individual they’ve never learned responsibility

they’ve never learned responsibility

they’ve never learned responsibility teamwork when a dog goes in details

teamwork when a dog goes in details

teamwork when a dog goes in details they’re assigned to inmates to take care

they’re assigned to inmates to take care

they’re assigned to inmates to take care of the dog this builds teamwork amongst

of the dog this builds teamwork amongst

of the dog this builds teamwork amongst the inmates the two inmates are

the inmates the two inmates are

the inmates the two inmates are responsible for bathing feeding caring

responsible for bathing feeding caring

responsible for bathing feeding caring and training for their dog so they are

and training for their dog so they are

and training for their dog so they are everything from A to Z the dogs live in

everything from A to Z the dogs live in

everything from A to Z the dogs live in the prisons it’s 24/7

the prisons it’s 24/7

the prisons it’s 24/7 this is cohabitation this is marriage

this is cohabitation this is marriage

this is cohabitation this is marriage this is whatever you want to call it

this is whatever you want to call it

this is whatever you want to call it when you’re with someone 24 hours a day

when you’re with someone 24 hours a day

when you’re with someone 24 hours a day seven days a week and it’s taught the

seven days a week and it’s taught the

seven days a week and it’s taught the inmates and the dogs the skills they

inmates and the dogs the skills they

inmates and the dogs the skills they need to have that second chance in the

need to have that second chance in the

need to have that second chance in the prison’s one of the things that we’ve

prison’s one of the things that we’ve

prison’s one of the things that we’ve seen is an increase in teamwork a

seen is an increase in teamwork a

seen is an increase in teamwork a decrease in violence so in in dorms and

decrease in violence so in in dorms and

decrease in violence so in in dorms and wings and wards that house the tales

wings and wards that house the tales

wings and wards that house the tales program the incidence of violence in

program the incidence of violence in

program the incidence of violence in those particular areas are much lower

those particular areas are much lower

those particular areas are much lower than in other areas of the prison that’s

than in other areas of the prison that’s

than in other areas of the prison that’s how effective tails is once the dogs go

how effective tails is once the dogs go

how effective tails is once the dogs go through the program it’s an eight week

through the program it’s an eight week

through the program it’s an eight week program at the end the dogs have to pass

program at the end the dogs have to pass

program at the end the dogs have to pass the prac

the prac

the prac chuckle exam so we hold the dogs

chuckle exam so we hold the dogs

chuckle exam so we hold the dogs accountable we also hold the inmates

accountable we also hold the inmates

accountable we also hold the inmates accountable they have to pass a written

accountable they have to pass a written

accountable they have to pass a written exam after that’s done we have

exam after that’s done we have

exam after that’s done we have graduation ceremonies at the prisons and

graduation ceremonies at the prisons and

graduation ceremonies at the prisons and there are shelter directors that come in

there are shelter directors that come in

there are shelter directors that come in from the animal shelters and then they

from the animal shelters and then they

from the animal shelters and then they speak there are lots of guests that come

speak there are lots of guests that come

speak there are lots of guests that come in in some prisons they allow friends

in in some prisons they allow friends

in in some prisons they allow friends and families of the inmates to come in

and families of the inmates to come in

and families of the inmates to come in and attend the graduation the inmates

and attend the graduation the inmates

and attend the graduation the inmates receive a certificate of completion for

receive a certificate of completion for

receive a certificate of completion for the training and the dogs receive either

the training and the dogs receive either

the training and the dogs receive either a bachelor’s a masters or a PhD and

a bachelor’s a masters or a PhD and

a bachelor’s a masters or a PhD and training I kid you not and it’s a very

training I kid you not and it’s a very

training I kid you not and it’s a very competitive training everybody wants

competitive training everybody wants

competitive training everybody wants their dog to be the best right so at the

their dog to be the best right so at the

their dog to be the best right so at the graduations there are lots of guests

graduations there are lots of guests

graduations there are lots of guests everybody smiles everybody cheers

everybody smiles everybody cheers

everybody smiles everybody cheers because everybody knows lives are being

because everybody knows lives are being

because everybody knows lives are being saved it’s my favorite picture so once

saved it’s my favorite picture so once

saved it’s my favorite picture so once the dogs get out of the program they’re

the dogs get out of the program they’re

the dogs get out of the program they’re adopted into homes and the inmates if

adopted into homes and the inmates if

adopted into homes and the inmates if they’re still in the prison system they

they’re still in the prison system they

they’re still in the prison system they can have another dog so the process

can have another dog so the process

can have another dog so the process continues we’ve seen or I’ve seen

continues we’ve seen or I’ve seen

continues we’ve seen or I’ve seen hardened criminals actually cry when

hardened criminals actually cry when

hardened criminals actually cry when their dog leaves the building even

their dog leaves the building even

their dog leaves the building even though it’s for a good reason right to

though it’s for a good reason right to

though it’s for a good reason right to go into a home they’re still very upset

go into a home they’re still very upset

go into a home they’re still very upset so we don’t waste any time bringing dogs

so we don’t waste any time bringing dogs

so we don’t waste any time bringing dogs in for the next round so that they can

in for the next round so that they can

in for the next round so that they can help even more dogs so if you remember

help even more dogs so if you remember

help even more dogs so if you remember one thing from the talk today from my

one thing from the talk today from my

one thing from the talk today from my talk today please remember this you know

talk today please remember this you know

talk today please remember this you know we took on a program we took a leap of

we took on a program we took a leap of

we took on a program we took a leap of faith with a program that we didn’t know

faith with a program that we didn’t know

faith with a program that we didn’t know whether we could find the funding or

whether we could find the funding or

whether we could find the funding or find the support that we needed to do it

find the support that we needed to do it

find the support that we needed to do it but we did it because we had passion

but we did it because we had passion

but we did it because we had passion anybody can accomplish anything if

anybody can accomplish anything if

anybody can accomplish anything if you’ve got the passion to do it but you

you’ve got the passion to do it but you

you’ve got the passion to do it but you also need realism right you can have all

also need realism right you can have all

also need realism right you can have all the passion in the world you have to

the passion in the world you have to

the passion in the world you have to know who to align yourself with in order

know who to align yourself with in order

know who to align yourself with in order to achieve that goal everybody needs

to achieve that goal everybody needs

to achieve that goal everybody needs money right but we don’t need a lot we

money right but we don’t need a lot we

money right but we don’t need a lot we need enough to get by but we don’t need

need enough to get by but we don’t need

need enough to get by but we don’t need a lot what we need more of in the world

a lot what we need more of in the world

a lot what we need more of in the world is passion

is passion

is passion passion is key but also to be realistic

passion is key but also to be realistic

passion is key but also to be realistic with what your what you’re trying to do

with what your what you’re trying to do

with what your what you’re trying to do but you can accomplish anything you want

but you can accomplish anything you want

but you can accomplish anything you want if you’ve got the passion to do it

if you’ve got the passion to do it

if you’ve got the passion to do it look we worry every single day about our

look we worry every single day about our

look we worry every single day about our tails program we worry about where we’re

tails program we worry about where we’re

tails program we worry about where we’re going to get the money to fund it we

going to get the money to fund it we

going to get the money to fund it we worry about the inmates we worry about

worry about the inmates we worry about

worry about the inmates we worry about the dogs but we continue to do it

the dogs but we continue to do it

the dogs but we continue to do it because we see the difference that it

because we see the difference that it

because we see the difference that it makes and we have the passion to do it

makes and we have the passion to do it

makes and we have the passion to do it you can do the same thing anybody can

you can do the same thing anybody can

you can do the same thing anybody can write a check it takes a lot more to

write a check it takes a lot more to

write a check it takes a lot more to care and to be passionate and to walk

care and to be passionate and to walk

care and to be passionate and to walk the walk

the walk

the walk I encourage you to take that chance to

I encourage you to take that chance to

I encourage you to take that chance to follow your passion and to be realistic

follow your passion and to be realistic

follow your passion and to be realistic about it

about it

about it as well today over 200 dogs are close to

as well today over 200 dogs are close to

as well today over 200 dogs are close to 200 dogs have graduated from the tales

200 dogs have graduated from the tales

200 dogs have graduated from the tales program this year alone we’ve impacted

program this year alone we’ve impacted

program this year alone we’ve impacted over 200 inmates with no dog left behind

over 200 inmates with no dog left behind

over 200 inmates with no dog left behind we have plans to continue to expand the

we have plans to continue to expand the

we have plans to continue to expand the program our passion is what drives us

program our passion is what drives us

program our passion is what drives us every single day our missions are

every single day our missions are

every single day our missions are accomplished and they’re accomplished

accomplished and they’re accomplished

accomplished and they’re accomplished one inmate and one dog at a time thank

one inmate and one dog at a time thank

one inmate and one dog at a time thank you