A Unique, Inspirational Prison Dog
Training Program
SAVING MORE THAN DOGS SINCE 2007
Issue 27 - September 2022
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- IT'S TIME TO ENTER OR VOTE IN THE CUTEST CRITTER PHOTO CONTEST!
- OVERVIEW OF PAWS IN PRISON HISTORY
- MEMORIES OF MACHELLE
- WE GIVE YOU THANKS
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1 - IT'S TIME TO ENTER & VOTE IN
The third Cutest Critter Photo contest is now live through the month of September! Please join in the fun and at the same time help us make The Cutest Critter Photo Contest a fundraising success! Submit photos of your Cutest Critters and/or vote for your favorite contestants for only $1 per vote!
This is one of our main online fundraisers. We need your help to support our work! Have you ever adopted one of our precious dogs? Are you a "graduate" of the Paws in Prison program? Are you a friend or family member of a program "graduate" or adopter? Or maybe you found us online and our mission totally captured your heart. Won't you please enter your Cutest Critter in the contest or cast votes to support any of the critters who have entered? You can vote as often or for as many critters as you want!
We came up with a very innovative way for our top 4 contestants to win up to a $500 Amazon Gift card at the end of the contest! And the top twelve contestants will receive a 2023 calendar with their Cutest Critter featured in one of the months.
Check it out by clicking HERE then select either VIEW ENTRIES to vote for your favorite Cutest Critter(s) OR ENTER CONTEST to upload a photo of your Cutest Critter for a chance to win at the end of the month .
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2 - OVERVIEW OF PAWS IN PRISON'S HISTORY |
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Enjoy this 6-minute video from 2008 when the program was about one year old. There is an ad for a few seconds - just select "skip ad." There are several inmate interviews and interviews with Machelle. In 2008, funding was provided by Geo Group, the prison management company contracted from 2007 - 2014. |
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Machelle Gaconnet founded the Paws in Prison program in 2007 and it became the first women's prison dog training program in Texas. In 2014 Machelle helped organize Friends of Paws in Prison as the nonprofit funding arm of the program. A new Board of Directors was created for Friends of Paws in Prison and Machelle became the Managing Director of the Paws in Prison inmate dog training program.
Machelle had the vision to establish a program that would pair rescue dogs from local kill shelters with carefully vetted women inmates in the Lockhart prison. With support from Geo Group, the contracted prison management company, her vision quickly caught on. The goal was to teach the dogs to become well behaved companions and ultimately be adopted into loving, forever homes.
During the training process, the women receive education in positive reinforcement training for the dogs that ultimately benefits them in their adjustment back into their communities after prison release. Since its beginning in 2007, over 500 dogs have been placed into forever homes! Many former inmates have gone into animal welfare related occupations and volunteer jobs using the training certifications they earned in the program to help them find employment.
On September 9, 2019 Machelle passed away. After her death, the organization was completely reorganized. The hard work and dedication of the Paws in Prison inmates, the new Board of Directors, the new Director/Trainer and helpful prison staff have enabled the program to thrive and grow.
Countless lives, both canine and human, have been saved and affected by the work and vision for which Ms. G, the name the inmates gave her, will always be remembered. We will work to keep her vision alive and hope each one of you will come alongside and partner with us. This newsletter is dedicated to her memory.
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Jennifer Keaton, Board President
and Adopter
I met Machelle when I was searching for my 4th German Shepherd. When I learned about Paws in Prison, and especially after adopting my perfect companion Strait, I knew this was the best rescue cause to devote myself to. Eventually I was nominated to the Board of Directors and the same month that Machelle died, I was nominated President. I really thought we would be working alongside each other. Machelle would be so proud of how the program has grown and become financially stable. If it hadn't been for the vision of Machelle Gaconnet, Paws in Prison wouldn't exist. She walked a path of compassion, and was an unwavering and stubborn force. She was a brave and strong woman of Texas
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Debbie Berry, Volunteer and Adopter
I first heard about Paws in Prison from a board member when I evaluated her two dogs for Pet Partners. Their training was impeccable and I was intrigued when I learned they had been trained through the Paws in Prison program. When I was ready to adopt again, I turned to Paws in Prison. Machelle was very helpful, kind and kept me informed throughout every step of the adoption process. After we brought our precious pup Maggie Mae home, Machelle kept in touch with me. We shared in my joy when Maggie became a registered Pet Partner, and made me feel special by continuing to keep in touch. I enjoyed communicating with other adopters through the Facebook group she created. It was wonderful adopting from an organization that truly cared with a person like Machelle at the helm! She would be so happy if she could see what the Paws in Prison has become and how many people and dogs it has reached and saved. Thank you Ms. G!
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Janis Graef, Board Secretary
and Adopter
I first met Machelle in 2016. I saw a dog on Petfinders' website that looked like my little deaf dog who died in 2014. I filled out my application immediately, thinking that since I had experience with a deaf dog, I would be a desirable pet parent for another deaf dog in the program. However Machelle told me about a different dog that wasn't deaf, and there was no way I could change her mind about which dog I should have! After the adoption Machelle and I texted each morning for almost a month so I could share how my dog was progressing in his new home. When I found out about her passing, I was totally stunned. I am deeply grateful for my wonderful dog, now named Major. Machelle just had a 6th sense that he was the right dog for me.
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L. Longoria - Reporter Interview circa 2017
Ms. Gaconnet, also known as Ms. G, welcomed me with a huge smile and her trademark cap, as she motioned me to sit in a chair surrounded by donated dog beds and dog food. Ms. G stumbled on the idea [for Paws in Prison] as she was watching a show on Animal Planet regarding the same concept of a rescue dog program in prison. After mulling over the idea for almost a year, in 2007 the Paws in Prison program was birthed and she rescued her first dog. ... Ms. G comments, "Texas is such a high-kill state. This program was created to rehabilitate the dog and the residents. It's a perfect fit. The ladies have time to devote to a dog in need and the dogs need love. Prison is not very loving, dogs don't judge and everybody wins. ...To most of these ladies the idea of unconditional love is a fathomless myth. These dogs have been through bad situations also." Ms. G continues, "This is the common bond. Just as we have problems, issues, and areas in our life that need work, so do these dogs." Thank you Ms. Gaconnet and the Ladies of Lockhart trainers for stepping up and making a difference.
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Lauren Friesenhahn, Volunteer and Adopter
There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about her [Machelle] and the impact she had. Machelle was such a special person. We adopted little Sammy from Paws in Prison back in 2016. Every other organization I reached out to would tell me "no" because I didn't have a yard and I was in an apartment. I began to lose hope. Machelle gave us a chance when no one else would. I believe she knew that I was a huge animal lover who was ready to pour my heart and soul into one lucky little dog and I'm so thankful for that every day. Knowing now that this was when her health began to decline, I am even more amazed at her determination to push on and continue the amazing work she did. Machelle continued to check on Sammy every few months. I knew Paws in Prison was struggling and that she was having a rough week. The last text conversation we had was in May 2019. We spoke about how cute Sammy was in the photo I had attached and then Machelle ended it with "I needed to see happiness, I love it!" Today I wish I could text her to let her know we finally got Sammy a house, with a big yard. Sammy is starting to get gray hairs, he has bad back legs, and is looking more and more like a cute little old man. The one thing that brings me comfort is knowing that Machelle is waiting for him, and is going to give him so much love and attention again one day.
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Jeri Muhich, Board Vice President and Adopter
We adopted our first Paws in Prison dog, Ms. Muffin, in 2010. What a heartbreak it was when we lost her to cancer last year at age 14. Because the program began in 2007, the dogs Machelle saved those first few years are now well into their senior years or have passed on to spend eternity with her.
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As a key player in the program's fundraising, I am happy to report that each year has seen more and more supporters joining our ranks. I only wish Machelle was here to see that her dream has continued on with dedicated supporters. I'm grateful that she is at peace and love to think she is looking down on us with joy. Both sets of lives, human and canine, come into the prison in all colors, backgrounds, shapes and sizes with the common denominator being that they ended up together in Paws in Prison where broken lives can be put back together because of the perseverance and dedication of Machelle Gaconnet. |
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We're sorry if we omitted any names from those of you who have helped us in any capacity in AUGUST but we do not always know the names of our Paws in Prison angels! Please let us know who you are if we missed thanking you by sending an email to: Donations@pawsinprison.com so we can personally let you know how grateful we are for your help.
Christine F, Tina P, Jeri M, Andrew B, Diane B, Lauren F, Janis G, Sylvia G, Janet M, Ann and John W, Blackbaud Giving Fund, Mike and Georgia B, Amazon Smile, Benevity Giving Platform, Penny L, Lisa C
Monthly donations, no matter the size, help us know what we can count on each month. Thanks to the following folks who give recurring monthly donations:
Daniel H, Marcus L, Debbie M, Jennifer K, Debbie B, Diana S, Shelly R., Heather W.
Because of YOU, we are SAVING MORE THAN DOGS!
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Mailing Address:
1711 S Colorado ST., Suite E-204,
Lockhart, Texas 78644
Phone: (833) 341-3523
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