Squeaky toys and friendly voices greet a new pack of dogs that have just arrived at the Pennsylvania prison. The attention is a bit overwhelming, but definitely pleasant. Most of the dogs have never experienced anything quite like it.

As timid as the rest of the group, “Phoenix” doesn’t seem to notice the men calling to him. The orange-and-white English Setter is unfazed partly because he lives in a world without sound. Phoenix is deaf.

Bred to be a hunting dog, the deaf puppy that was originally named “Bubba” wasn’t trainable for the sport. He spent his early years tied outside and uncertain of his fate. After three years, his owners decided that they wanted a better life for Bubba. They contacted Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue in Pennsylvania, hoping to find a family that could give Bubba a home.

After a cross-country transport, which included a weeklong stay at a temporary Above and Beyond foster home in Georgia, the timid dog found himself at the home of Cindy Minaya in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Minaya, a foster volunteer for Above and Beyond, immediately connected with the dog, although his stay would only last a few days.

Bubba had already been hand-selected for the prison program. Knowing that a non-housebroken, non-socialized deaf English Setter would have difficulty being adopted, Minaya had contacted the coordinator of the prison program in hopes that the dog would be accepted. Minaya knew that the program offered Bubba a chance to get the discipline, training, love and compassion he desperately needed.

Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue finds homes for over 90 dogs a year. Minaya and the other volunteers also knew that Bubba would be a hard dog to adopt because he had natural setter tendencies. “He is a very ‘birdy’ dog,” Minaya says. “This presents a challenge. If he takes off on a scent, you can’t simply call for him or whistle to get his attention as you can with hearing dogs.”

Above and Beyond is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance (CPAA), a nonprofit organization made up of shelters and rescue groups, working to save the lives of adoptable animals. Through CPAA, Minaya had discovered the Hounds of Prison Education (HOPE) program for her own rescued dog, “Merrick,” a mixed-breed English Setter. Given Merrick’s success in the program, Minaya felt that perhaps HOPE could benefit Bubba as well.

A Special-Needs Dog

The HOPE program was launched in 2005 at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, Pa. CPAA rescue organizations can submit applications to HOPE for dogs that are difficult to adopt. After a screening process to check for temperament and responses to stimuli unique to the prison environment, dogs spend six-to-12 weeks living and training at the prison. Each dog is paired with two inmates who work with a professional trainer to teach the dog basic obedience, socialization and behavior modification.

The dogs live with their inmate handlers 24 hours a day. Camp Hill has a large fenced yard in which the dogs have doggie pools, agility equipment and room to run or participate in walking training. The dogs sleep in large crates in the inmates’ cells, however, the strict rule of crate training may not always apply.

“I saw quite a bit of dog hair on the inmates’ blankets,” says Ivy Logue, a volunteer for Above and Beyond. “I even saw one dog that could jump up on the second bunk. I’m guessing that those dogs aren’t always sleeping in the crates.”

“We currently have six dogs at Camp Hill, and have adopted out 35 since the program started,” says Kelly McGinley, a CPAA volunteer and HOPE coordinator. “The size of the ‘class’ depends on the number of handlers we have at a given time.”

Applications are reviewed by McGinley and Cindy Reitz, the professional dog trainer who works with the inmates and dogs. Many applications are for dogs with behavioral or socialization problems. Dogs with aggressive tendencies toward humans or other dogs could present problems given the close quarters in which the inmates and dogs cohabitate.

Reitz, however, doesn’t automatically rule out these cases. “Very few things will totally red flag them,” she says. “One dog had a history of being dog aggressive, but people use the word ‘aggressive’ loosely. I am seldom comfortable rejecting a dog unless I can see him for myself. It usually just takes some dedicated training to fix most problems.”

Just before Phoenix came into the HOPE program, the inmates were excited about taking on new challenges and had approached McGinley about the possibility of working with a special-needs dog. McGinley says the men wanted to put in the extra effort to work with a disabled dog that might otherwise have difficulty being adopted. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“We introduced Bubba to his primary handler, Don,” says McGinley. “When I came back the next day, Don told me that he had named him Phoenix. Don said, ‘He came in as virtually nothing, and you’ll all be amazed at the dog he will become.’”

Phoenix had little experience with either dogs or humans, and was insecure and submissive in most settings. His deafness compounded the issues. HOPE handlers and Reitz needed to build up his confidence and trust as well as teach him to communicate.

“It was heartbreaking to see Phoenix on the first day,” recalls Minaya. “He cowered the entire way into the prison. He would crouch down with his tail tucked and walk in what the prisoners called ‘stealth-mode.’ He was just so unsure of the world.”

Ultimately, Phoenix spent almost four months in the program. Under Reitz’s tutelage, the inmates worked from an American Sign Language textbook. By the time he left, Phoenix knew and understood about 30 signs. He learned signs such as: “Come to the house,” “Go in your crate,” “Potty,” and “Cookie.”

Although Phoenix learned hand signals quickly, the handlers’ biggest challenge was getting Phoenix’s attention. “With deaf dogs, some trainers use lights, some use a vibrating collar,” Reitz explains. “We are limited as to what we can take into and leave in the prison. The inmates ended up getting in Phoenix’s line of vision and waving their arms to get his attention.”

It took Phoenix a week before he connected with a human being. McGinley recalls the monumental change in the dog. “He had started to blossom. You could tell that he was starting to feel safe. He was putting on weight and wagging his tail. The inmates had taught him how to play. Phoenix had found his pack with the other dogs.”

A New Pack Member

Just down the road in Carlisle, Pa., Bob Wenzel had gotten wind of Phoenix’s story. After describing to his wife, Nancy Jean, how Phoenix could be a great addition to their “pack” of two Golden Retrievers, and receiving her support, Wenzel submitted an adoption application to Above and Beyond English Setter Rescue. The selection process would include several adoption interviews and an on-site visit to the potential adoption home.

“At the adoption interview, they asked what challenges I anticipated a deaf dog would have. I knew the challenge was going to be mine to remember that I can’t call to him to get his attention. But then my two Goldens, ‘Einstein’ and ‘Loki,’ are selectively deaf,” laughs Wenzel.

“I figured that perhaps I could train them using the same hand signals, and they would all respond. It worked. Since Phoenix has come to live with us leaving the house is a whole lot more organized.”

After Wenzel’s application was approved, Reitz arrived with Phoenix and spent an hour teaching the Wenzel family how to interact with a deaf pet. Phoenix’s handler at the prison had prepared a document with hand-drawn diagrams to illustrate each signal the dog had learned. Reitz would continue to be available for any follow-up questions or to address problems. So far, none has surfaced.

“Cindy showed me all of the signals Phoenix knows. She said, ‘Every time he wants to go out or whenever there is something that he wants, you need to run him through each of these signs,’” Wenzel says.

After the adoption, it took several days to settle into a family routine. Wenzel tied a 9-foot lead to himself and Phoenix, so he would be aware of the dog getting up in the middle of the night. “That got us oriented toward each other rather quickly,” says Wenzel. “Because Phoenix can’t listen to ascertain what is going on around him, he tends to wake up barking.

“Before he gets up running, I turn a flashlight on. I shine it first on him and then in my face so that he can sense there is something more than darkness around him. Ninety percent of the time this reorients him and he settles right down.”

Today, Phoenix has settled nicely into a routine. Wenzel works nights; every morning when he arrives home, he finds Phoenix with his nose pressed to the window watching for him. The dogs often spend the afternoons with Wenzel exploring fields and parks. Phoenix is usually tethered to a 100-foot lead, which gives him freedom to run but allows Wenzel to get his attention. One afternoon a week Wenzel practices hand signals with all three dogs. Phoenix also receives lots of one-on-one attention from the Wenzel family.

Although Phoenix’s transition to his adoptive home was relatively smooth, Wenzel had a few challenges to overcome. “He’s gotten off the lead a couple of times and taken off after a bird. I can’t call to him to make him stop,” says Wenzel. “Even Einstein and Loki can’t catch him, but he always shows up completely worn out within five or 10 minutes. He always comes back to right where he left us. This just reinforces to me that he feels like he’s finally home.” 

HOPE’s Dog Handlers

Inmates selected to be dog handlers in the Hounds of Prison Education (HOPE) program at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, Pa., must pass a stringent screening process. To begin with, counselors and unit managers interview all applicants; those that have committed sex or child abuse crimes are not considered. Applicants who qualify must pass a physical and mental evaluation.

Kelly McGinley, the HOPE coordinator, then reviews applications. Those accepted into the program have a four-week probationary period. During this time, they work with a primary handler learning how to train a dog while also keeping up with work assignments and schoolwork. If all goes well, they become a primary handler and get their own dog after the probation.

“HOPE has helped to boost morale and behavior among inmates,” says McGinley. “It is a win-win program for the correctional facility, the participating rescue organizations and, most importantly, the dogs who find the loving, forever homes they so deserve.”