PANAMA CITY — Time incarcerated is unforgiving.
The regimen, the guards and the cells are meant to be cold and uninviting. But a recent Bay County Jail program has been giving one segment of the inmate population help making it through their sentence and a companion to help pass the time.
“This is truly your one friend in jail,” said Ladora Nunnery, inmate.
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In the past four months, the jail has begun a dog training program with female inmates placed in Lifeline, a substance abuse counseling program, as the animal trainers. Dogs sent to the jail come from abusive or inattentive homes to get immersed with inmates, being locked down with a handler or assistant for 24-hours a day. The program spans about 120 days, which is just enough time to get used to being around people and obedient, according to Warden Rick Anglin.
“It gives us enough time to train and be with the dogs to make a difference,” Anglin said. “It’s basically a program within a program.”
The dogs are supplied by Alaqua Animal reserve at no cost to the jail.
But the dogs aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. For inmates convicted of crimes related to narcotics abuse, like fraud or robbery to attain the means to get a fix, recovering while incarcerated adds another degree of discomfort, Nunnery said.
Nunnery was previously released on probation after running a theft scheme at Wal-mart where she’d take small items from the shelves and return them for cash. She was picked up again after leaving Bay County to sell cocaine, her main vice other than marijauana, she said.
“I get a lot of my frustration out with Razzle,” Nunnery said. “She gives me something to look forward from day to day.”
Razzle, a female border collie and beagle mix, was timid at first. She came from an abusive home. But after spending a few weeks in jail, Razzle has warmed up to people and now sleeps at the foot of Nunnery’s jail cot. Razzle is also up to about 12 different obedience tricks.
As it turns out, many of the dogs were quite adept to human jail. They get fed at a set time, walked regularly and attention 24-hours a day from their human counterparts. And some of the dogs have started to mimic their trainers by standing at attention during the jail’s routine headcounts.
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The goal, Anglin said, is to get the dog training program beyond obedience training to “assistance dog” training, to fetch items or open cabinets and doors for elderly or disabled owners. He also wants to expand the program to the male Lifeline population.
“So far, we’ve had no problems getting the dogs adopted after they leave here,” Anglin said.
Much like anyone, the inmates get attached to the pooches and want the best for them. Many of the guards keep the ladies updated on what kind of homes the dogs receive after their training. So far, four of the dogs have found permanent homes.