WEC Care -- Program matches offenders, shelter dogs

Mitch Albers of Omaha walks "Gypsy," a stray at the McCook Humane Society Animal Shelter. Mitch and Gypsy are the first team to participate in a four-week dog and handler training program designed by the Humane Society and the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp in McCook. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

The dog will learn obedience; the handler will learn responsibility.

Those are the goals of a new pilot program started by the McCook Humane Society and the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp in McCook.

The program, called WEC CARE -- Canine Awareness Rehabilitation and Education -- will match one WEC offender with a shelter dog for four weeks, in the hope the offender will develop self-esteem and the dog will become more adoptable.

"Good girl," Mitch Albers tells Gypsy, who obviously thinks she's gone to doggy heaven. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

Anne Dowd, president of the Humane Society, is very excited about the CARE program. "It's a win-win situation," she said. "Our dog gets taught obedience and manners, and the young (offender)is instilled with responsibility and compassion."

She smiles, "How can we lose?"

FIRST DOG

The first dog for the project is "Gypsy," a three-to-four-year-old Chow-German shepherd female.

Shelter director Addie Hansen said Gypsy was selected for the program because of her calm, but alert demeanor and her intelligence, willingness to learn and ability to learn quickly.

"She's well-behaved, for the most part," Addie said, "And she's a people-person dog."

Addie said the program after which CARE is modeled is 12 weeks long, but WEC offenders will be allowed to participate only in the last four weeks of their stay at the camp. So Anne and Addie have condensed a 12-week program into four weeks.

Gypsy is already house-trained and walks on a leash, skills her new handler won't have to worry about teaching.

THE FIRST HANDLER

The first handler for the CARE program is Mitch Albers of Omaha.

Cynthia Schneider, nurse supervisor and coordinator of the CARE program at the Work Camp, said Mr. Albers was selected to participate in the dog program after applying for the position. He was very carefully screened, Schneider said. "No one with any indication of or history of violence will be allowed to work with the dogs," she said.

Albers was interviewed by both WEC officials and shelter officials.

Schneider said WEC officials hope the program will help offenders learn responsibility when they have to take care of someone other than themselves. "We hope it will help them develop decision-making skills, and build their self-esteem," she said.

THE PROGRAM

Anne said Mitch and Gypsy started the program May 2, as Mitch learned to clean Gypsy's kennel run and watched training tapes. "Monday, he started walking Gypsy on her leash, and learned how to use the chain collar," Anne said. "They're working on 'sit' and 'heel' and are learning 'stay'."

"They're bonding," Anne said. "Gypsy's already listening for his voice."

Anne and Addie will help Mitch with dog obedience training, and McCook veterinarian Dr. Wayne Watkins will work with Mitch to teach him basic animal care -- Gypsy's diet and caring for her eyes, teeth, skin and ears.

Monday through Thursday, Mitch will work with Gypsy at the shelter; on Friday, Gypsy will go to the Work Camp.

Mitch has class all day Friday, and Gypsy will be allowed in the classroom. It will be Mitch's responsibility on Fridays to see that Gypsy is fed and watered, and allowed outside to puddle and play.

At the end of each day, Mitch is required to write a report about what he's learned. "He's like a sponge," Anne laughed. "He doesn't seem to forget anything."

At the end of the four-week program, Mitch will have to research and report the breed of his dog -- in Gypsy's case, two breeds.

MITCH'S STORY

Mitch said he's grown up around dogs. He's easy to praise Gypsy when she's done well. "Good girl," he said, as she sat on his first command. "Everybody loves you," he crooned, as he patted her head and stroked her neck.

Mitch says the program will help him make good use of his time at the Work Camp. The deal, Anne said, is that Mitch will get into absolutely no trouble at the camp during the four-week CARE program. "Or, I get fired," Mitch said softly.

Mitch said the program will help him give something back to the community that supports the WEC camp so well. "I'll help train a dog," he said, "and the shelter will find her a good home."

Mitch will spend a lot of time with Gypsy in the next four weeks. Will it be hard to give her up at the end of the program? "It might be hard for me to let her go in four weeks," he said thoughtfully, "but I know the Humane Society will give her to a family who will love her."