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
​
-
Increased willingness and ability to cooperate and engage positively in team-settings
-
Increased ability to tolerate, experience, and express emotional discomfort in a constructive manner
-
Increased awareness of the needs and emotional states of self and others, and appropriate behavioral responses
-
Increased reported sense of camaraderie among participants
-
Increased reported sense of self-esteem and social value
-
Increased willingness and ability to engage in honest self-reflection
-
Increased understanding of canine behavior and how canine-handling principles can be applied to interpersonal relationships in and out of incarceration
-
Procurement of canine-handling skills for professional application after incarceration
​
Canine Metrics
​
-
Completion of Canine Good Citizen Certification
-
Increased signs of trust and respect with handlers and other humans
-
Decreased symptoms of nervousness, insecurity, and fear
-
Decreased tendencies toward possessiveness and territoriality
-
Increased balanced social behavior toward other dogs
-
Increased obedience to handlers
To learn more about the Pawsitive Change program please contact: pawsitivechangeprogram@marleysmutts.org
