Without knowing more, and I don’t, this looks like a REALLY bad idea. Why? Because its one thing to take a dog who needs rehabbing and have prisoners retraining dogs. That’s great for both the dogs and the prisoners!
Breeding dogs is something else altogether if you’re going to do it right. Just simply saying, “hey, let’s save a little money and put two dogs together to breed,” is definitely NOT doing it right! Good breeders take many things into consideration before arranging for a litter. Why do I suspect that these officials are thinking in the VERY short term?
So what happens to all those dogs who won’t cut it in the prison system? Is the prison system going to arrange for good homes for the dogs who wash out? And I have no doubts there will be quite a few dogs who won’t work out for their purposes. If good breeders were in charge and responsible they would take care of those puppies and dogs.
What happens to all the puppies with health problems due to mismanaged breeding? If the state officials don’t know anything about genetics and breeding, there will be puppies who will have genetically-based health problems, just like with puppy mill puppies.
There is a reason why the best police dogs come from a few breeders — breeding service dogs in not happenstance; it takes a lot of work and knowledge! You’re not building a tractor (though I realize that takes a lot of work and knowledge too); you’re working with genetics and behavior to mold living creatures!
Here’s an idea for the penal system to save money — raise food crops like corn and beans! At least when you make mistakes, you can eat them. The mistakes you make breeding dogs are much more long-lasting and other people will have to clean up your messes.
This story appeared on WJZ TV.
State Prison Officials Breeding Dogs On Site
(AP) Hagerstown, MD The Maryland Division of Correction is raising its own canine force on site.A litter of Labrador retrievers born November 21st marks the first try at breeding and raising dogs at a state prison compound in the state.
Officials came up with the idea after more and more dogs have been snatched up by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Captain Peter Anderson, commander of the canine unit, says the agency usually would buy dogs from private breeders and train them. But adult dogs do not always adjust well to the confines of prison.
He says it’s also a money saver, estimating it would cost about $2,800 to breed and raise three dogs. That is the minimum the prison system needs each year.
