Friends for Folks, initiated by Oklahoma veterinarian Dr. John Otto thirty years ago, facilitates bringing shelter dogs to the Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility, where inmates engage in training them for adoption. Trainer Sheila Arles highlighted the program's profound impact, saying it has taught her how to cultivate healthy relationships.
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The training process involves dogs like Ace learning various skills, including crossing a bridge. Inmates, wearing orange jumpsuits, participate in this program, which serves a larger purpose. Arles, who has been training dogs for nearly a decade, described the initiative as a last chance for both the dogs and the inmates. "We save lives for dogs and humans and find them very good companions within the dog," she stated. Arles also noted that the program has transformed her own life, providing her with a renewed perspective on relationships.
The objective of the program is to prevent shelter dogs from being euthanized while assisting them in finding new homes. During their time at the prison, dogs undergo potty training and learn safety commands, tricks, and crate training. Otto explained that dogs are sourced from shelters and trained by inmates for a duration of four to six weeks, with the hope that their newly acquired skills will lead to successful adoptions. Post-training, some dogs serve in hospice care or provide emotional support in courtrooms, while others become family companions.
Otto described the noticeable changes in inmates participating in the program, stating, "When you come through the program, you can see the hope on these ladies’ faces. It warms my heart to know we can help people out there to have that type of companion when they’re going through something really hard." He pointed out that both dogs and inmates often share a similar experience of rejection, but through the program, they find hope and joy together.
The initiative provides inmates with a sense of purpose and equips them with skills useful post-release, while simultaneously improving the dogs' prospects for adoption. One former inmate who benefited from the program now works for Otto as a veterinary assistant at University Animal Hospital in Norman. After her release, the veterinary board and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics waived her felony conviction to facilitate her employment, a testament to her success as a role model for others.