Episode 130. Second Chances: How Shelter Dogs Bring Redemption and Hope to Incarcerated Youth

Content Note: In this episode, there are mentions of child abuse and neglect and a juvenile case involving murder and the death of a dog. These topics are discussed only in passing, but we recognize they may be sensitive for some listeners.

In this episode, we’ll meet Joan Dalton, author of the book Second Chances: The Transformative Relationship Between Incarcerated Youth and Shelter Dogs.  Joan is the founder of Project POOCH, a program pairing teens in juvenile detention with shelter dogs. What started as an idea grew into a transformative program that not only rehabilitates dogs in need of homes but also teaches young people the skills and compassion they need to heal and move forward.

Joan & I discuss how the program began, the life-changing impacts she’s witnessed and the resilience it took to keep the program going when funding was pulled.  From trauma to trust, you'll hear how Project POOCH creates powerful paths to healing, empathy and redemption — for both humans and animals.

Juvenile justice is something we should all care about, because these youths will return to society as adults. We have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to help them grow into contributing members of society. When we give people and animals the tools to heal, the results can transform lives and communities.

Joan & I discuss:

  • The childhood experiences that shaped her life;

  • Her career path and curiosity about the impact of dogs in people’s lives;

  • Why law-abiding citizens should care about juvenile offenders;

  • The most impactful life skills that the shelter dogs teach the juvenile offenders;

  • What inspired Joan to create Project POOCH;

  • The story of Anthony, the first Project POOCH student;

  • Creating the rules and expectations of Project POOCH;

  • How negative treatment of the dogs was dealt with;

  • The importance of letting the students shape Project POOCH from selecting their fellow students to the selecting the dogs;

  • Statistics showing the positive impact of Project POOCH;

  • What happened when the state of Oregon stopped funding for the program;

  • How Joan has kept her word to the students and the dogs, even after all these years

Find Joan & Project POOCH:

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