Mutt Matchers & Friends have partnered with the Management Training Corporation to bring together dogs in need of training with inmates for the betterment of both.

The program, Pound to Pen Partnership,brings five dogs to a special dormitory at the prison for training and socialization. This not only frees up room for five more furry souls to be housed at the MM&F facility, but allows the five chosen dogs a chance to be trained for their new owners--whomever they may be.

The program consists of a classroom training session with the five inmate primary handlers and five inmate secondary handlers, plus one alternate for a total of ten handlers this session. The class is being conducted by experienced dog trainer and founder of the program Sandy Spruiell and accompanied by MM&F volunteers.

After this full day course, the partners accept their pups into the dormitory. The inmates are given hands-on instruction each Friday of the course, led by our experienced trainer and dedicated volunteers. The primary partners handle the dogs, with the secondary partners looking on and learning along with them. Throughout the week, the inmates care for the dogs by bathing, exercising, socializing and practicing their learned techniques.

If a member of the public is interested in one of the program pups, he or she may apply to adopt the dog while it is still in the program. This way, the home check and adoption process may be complete by the time the dog graduates.

Adopters of the program dogs will be given a hands-on workshop for the new owners after adoption . The new owners will then have the ability to continue the progress the partners have made with them in the program.

No dogs will graduate from the program until *all* the dogs have exhibited behavior qualifying them for completion. This means the course estimated at six weeks may need to become a seven or eight week course to make sure that all the dogs' progress satisfies the trainer.

At graduation time, a ceremony will be held at the prison and each dog will receive a completion certificate, indicating they have achieved a higher level of obedience and will make excellent companions.

  The training session and graduation of class 1-07 is yet undetermined.  We are targeting mid to late January for the startup.  The Open House and Graduation Ceremony will be held at the A.S.P facility located west of Kingman off Interstate 40.  People can be pre-qualified for one of the dogs by calling the Adoption Center at 718-4DOG.  Anyone wishing to attend one, or both events may call Sandy at 753-4554 to get information.  Advance clearance is required by the Prison for attendance, so call as soon as possible.  The Public is welcome to share in this innovative experience, but children under 12 are not allowed.  Children ages 13 through 18, must be accompanied by a parent.