Project POOCH (POOCH is an acronym for "Positive Opportunities, Obvious Change with Hounds") is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to rehabilitate incarcerated youths by actively training difficult-to-adopt dogs. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... 501(c)(3) is a provision of the US tax code that provides exempt status, for Federal income tax purposes, for some non-profit organizations in the United States (see 26 U.S.C. Â§ 501(c)(3)). The term refers to: Section 501. ... A nonprofit organization (abbreviated NPO, or non-profit or not-for-profit) is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes. ...

In 1993, the program was started by Joan Dalton at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Oregon. The program's success has garnered it international attention, with similar programs established in Korea and Scotland, as well as Japanese television shows and documentaries about the program.^[1] The project has also been featured on Animal Planet. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Entrance marker to MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility is a correctional facility in Woodburn, Oregon. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or ì¡°ì„ , see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Documentary film is a broad category of cinematic expression united by the intent to remain factual or non-fictional. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned 80% by Discovery Communications, Inc. ...

Dogs from local animal shelters are taken in by Project POOCH and paired with young offenders, most of whom have been convicted of serious crimes such as murder and sexual assault.^[2] The dogs often have behavioral problems, including excessive barking or aggression. Dog at a no-kill animal shelter in Washington, Iowa An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. ... Sexual assault is any undesired physical contact of a sexual nature perpetrated against another person. ...

For her doctoral dissertation, Sandra Merriam-Aduini studied the effects of Project POOCH had on violent, incarcerated male juveniles inmates, studying effects on recidivism, reformation, and behavioral changes linked to human-animal interactions emphasizing responsibility, patience, and compassion. Between 1993 and 1999, Dr. Merriam-Aduini found zero recidivism of POOCH participants and that the program achieved educational expectations and judicial orders with success rates, including marked behavior improvements in "respect for authority, social interaction and leadership" as well as "growth in areas of honesty, empathy, nurturing, social growth, understanding, confidence level and pride of accomplishment".^[3][4] Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior. ...

"Rehabilitated" dogs are subsequently adopted by new homes following behavioral tests.

References

1. ^ "From problem to pet: Project helps dogs, youths find new direction", Nancy Hill, The Portland Tribune, March 13, 2007
2. ^ "Unwanted dogs bring criminals to heel", Gerard Seenan, Guardian Unlimited, October 8, 2004
3. ^ Merriam-Arduini, S. (2000). Evaluation of an experimental program designed to have a positive effect on adjudicated violent, incarcerated male juveniles age 12-25 in the state of Oregon. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University.
4. ^ "A History of Prison Inmate-Animal Interaction Programs", Earl O. Strimple, American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 47, No. 1, 70-78 (2003).

• "Second Chances", Nancy Hill, ConnectforKids.org

Front page of Guardian Unlimited from August 16, 2005 Guardian Unlimited is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... Pepperdine University is a private institution of higher learning affiliated with the Church of Christ. ...

External links

• Project POOCH website
• Joan Dalton's Project POOCH website
• Project Pooch photo slideshow at the Statesman Journal
• Project Pooch information at the National Institute of Corrections website