Pawsitive Change
Creating hope and opportunity for incarcerated people and pets so both may find a path home.
Pawsitive Change
Marley’s Mutts® partners with California state prisons to select 24-30 incarcerated individuals and 8-10 at-risk shelter dogs for each prison program cycle. Interested candidates submit an application for the program, write an essay and undergo an interview. Those chosen for the program submit to a 14 week course, that involves very challenging blocks of course work which involve weekly homework assignments and personal goals.
We measure success by the following metrics:
Human Metrics
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Increased willingness and ability to cooperate and engage positively in team-settings
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Increased ability to tolerate, experience, and express emotional discomfort in a constructive manner
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Increased awareness of the needs and emotional states of self and others, and appropriate behavioral responses
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Increased reported sense of camaraderie among participants
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Increased reported sense of self-esteem and social value
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Increased willingness and ability to engage in honest self-reflection
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Increased understanding of canine behavior and how canine-handling principles can be applied to interpersonal relationships in and out of incarceration
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Procurement of canine-handling skills for professional application after incarceration
Canine Metrics
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Completion of Canine Good Citizen Certification
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Increased signs of trust and respect with handlers and other humans
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Decreased symptoms of nervousness, insecurity, and fear
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Decreased tendencies toward possessiveness and territoriality
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Increased balanced social behavior toward other dogs
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Increased obedience to handlers
To learn more about the Pawsitive Change program please contact: pawsitivechangeprogram@marleysmutts.org
