Paws in Prison
September 2020 Newsletter
Issue #5 is dedicated in memory of our Founder, Machelle Gaconnet
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MEMORIES OF MACHELLE
In September 2019 Paws in Prison lost one of the most amazing women most of us will ever meet, Machelle Gaconnet, the founder of Paws in Prison. Our September 2020 Newsletter is dedicated to Machelle, or Ms. G as the Lockhart Ladies called her, as we reflect on the Paws in Prison history and our memories of Ms. G.
PAWS IN PRISON HISTORY
In December 2007, Machelle Gaconnet had the vision to establish a program that would pair rescue dogs from local central Texas kill shelters with carefully vetted women inmates in the Lockhart Correctional Facility. These inmates would learn how to care for and train these dogs using positive reinforcement training techniques. The goal was to teach the dogs how to become well behaved companions and ultimately be adopted into loving, forever homes, and at the same time, give the women encouragement and positive input that would benefit them after their release into society. Since its beginning in 2007, over 450 dogs have been placed into forever homes and many of the inmates have gone into animal-welfare related occupations and volunteer jobs after their return to society.
Machelle was paid to run the program from 2007-2014 by GeoGroup, the management company hired by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), thus no outside fundraising was necessary to support the program. However, in 2014 TDCJ contracted a different company, Management Training Corporation (MTC), to manage the prison. MTC permitted the PIP program to continue, however, MTC did not provide financial support. As a result, Friends of Paws in Prison was created in 2014 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to financially support the PIP program, so financial support became the responsibility of the newly formed Board of Directors. Around 2016, Machelle developed debilitating health problems. The program started to slowly decline along with Machelle's health. Board members began to resign or move away.
In September 2019, tragically, Machelle passed away. Her important mission to continue the Paws in Prison program became the passion of six women who courageously took it over in September 2019 when the program was in danger of collapsing. You can read about these women in our April Newsletter. The real hero now is Catherine Laria, who is the Executive Director and Inmate Trainer of the Paws in Prison program, along with her assistant, Sylvia Gonzales. "Ms. L" teaches the inmates how to train and care for the dogs, while she also guides and teaches the inmates. We are so thankful for her and awed at the wonderful job she is doing under extremely difficult circumstances. Just as things were beginning to turn around, Covid-19 hit our world and the prison went into lockdown when neither visitors nor volunteers were allowed inside the prison. But Ms. L has been very creative in continuing training and dog adoptions, along with help from Ms. Sylvia and some MTC prison staff.
Because of your financial support, we have been able to hang on and plow ahead! It is bittersweet to watch the following 6 minute video done in October 2008. It contains an interview with Machelle, volunteers, and some of the prison ladies. After the video, the memorial stories speak to the love and care that Machelle gave to the prison ladies, the amazing dogs rescued from death, and the fur parents who adopted them. Machelle had an instinct for finding the perfect dog for each family. You might need to keep some tissues handy!
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FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Jennifer Keaton
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I was introduced to Paws in Prison when I adopted my boy Strait in 2017. I have been heavily involved in animal rescue for 25 years but I knew immediately this program was something special. Machelle and I became friends and I loved the mission of Paws in Prison. Of course I supported the animal rescue arm, but was passionate about the component of empowering women too.
I was voted in as the President of the Board on September 9, 2019. Unknown to anyone yet, Machelle had died that same day. I really thought that we would be working along-side each other during my future tenure. Her death was devastating for the program and I mourned the loss of my friend.
Doing things without Machelle and her program history and knowledge proved to be difficult! I had come onto the Board a few months prior to this so I had worked alongside Machelle for awhile. During that time, I gained access to a few important things, such as some passwords that proved to be critical later. The Board and staff spent the first few months trying to get control of important things like the bank account, credit card and access to the website. Those first few months were just trying to get back to ground zero before we could start rebuilding.
Today, I have two items hanging from my car’s rear-view mirror: a beaded necklace that my daughter made for me when she was a toddler and dried flowers from Machelle’s memorial. I see these two things daily to inspire me.
I am excited to be a part of the next chapter with the passion of the new Board and Staff. We will continue Machelle’s legacy and ensure the program blossoms to honor her, but we can't do this on our own without your help. We have big goals and with your help (time, money or both) you can help us “Save More than Dogs!”
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FLOWERS AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE
Diane B: Machelle was the best dog catcher EVER! If they let her get close enough, they became a paws in prison puppy. One day a stray dog actually showed up at the front door of the prison, so word on the street must have gotten out that there was a lady in that prison who was a dog life saver. Yes, that dog became a PIP dog, all because of the love and vision of Machelle. One of my fur babies was saved off the streets by Machelle and our life wouldn’t be the same without Dexter. Machelle is loved and missed by humans and fur babies alike.
FROM THREE LADIES CURRENTLY
IN THE LOCKHART PRISON
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Pat M said Ms. G was the crucial reason she was able to get into the PIP program. Machelle visited her several times when Pat was in her former dorm and then proceeded to cut through the red tape so 75 year old Pat could get into the PIP program as she so dearly wanted. Pat was moved into the dog dorm on September 7, just a couple of days before Ms. G died. "Dogs were number one with Ms. G and I wish I had been able to work with her."
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Vicky R came into the program in 2013 and said she was first struck by what a good communicator and listener Ms. G was. She says that she always felt "heard." Ms. G was a huge fan of Zig Zigler and would always say, "It doesn't cost anything to be kind to one another and you never know what a smile can do for someone." Vicky says, "Ms. G became a friend; someone you could trust."
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Addy A said she came in straight off the bus in January 2018 and had no idea there was a dog program. She met Ms. G after a couple days and was interviewed. Addy said, "Ms G was no nonsense when it came to the dogs." With tears in her eyes she went on to say, "Ms. G was a genuine person; it's just too hard to describe what a beautiful soul she was. I am humbled and honored to be a part of something this important."
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Janis G: I first saw my blue Merle Australian Shepherd on the Paws website in July of 2016. This dog was mostly white with blue eyes and was deaf. They named him Blue. However, Machelle seemed reluctant to make any commitment to me. She contacted me again a couple of weeks later and said another dog had come in that looked just like Blue only was not deaf and she really wanted me to see him- she had named him Merle. I drove to Lockhart a few times to see him, but Machelle was reluctant to make any commitment. I think now that she was giving his handlers at the prison a chance to work with him. Finally, Machelle agreed to let us adopt Merle - we picked him up a couple of days after Christmas, 2016. We renamed him Major Merle and he is such a joy! Machelle texted me almost every morning for several months to check on us. When I found out through the newsletter what had happened to Machelle, I was totally shocked. I think of her every day.
Terry B: She was the best! So sorry how it ended. I miss her in my mind every day.
Toby S: I was in the very first cohort for the dog program- Machelle had amazing foresight to make this program work! I remember her fondly.
Robin P: She WAS the best. She always had a smile and something nice to say.
Racquel H: Amazing lady! Because of her my life is changed and I have the best dog ever Ms. Fiona! Thank you Ms. G.
Kay R: I miss you every day Machelle. You changed my life.
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Margaret: She hurt. It was constant. I only knew her this way. It was obvious in how she moved, and some days how she tried not to move. And I came to believe she was in a prison of her own body; pain was her constant companion. I don't know for sure, but I came to wonder if every dog she saved, even the most improbable and weird little creature, was a balm and medicine from an unjust agony. The pain let her walk a path of compassion; it also let her be an unwavering and stubborn force. She was a brave and strong woman of Texas.
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Jerry: Buddy was an abused and socially discarded pet, until Machelle came to the rescue. With Machelle’s guidance and the loving brilliance of two incredible inmates, Buddy was transformed into the adorable, loving pet we now cherish. Approaching the age of 9, Buddy is still as playful and fun-loving as the day we brought him home. He still cracks me up with his playful antics. Buddy is another living example of the tremendous importance of Paws in Prison. May Machelle’s “light” continue to burn brightly in the otherwise dark places of the lost and forgotten “Buddies” of this world.
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Terry C: In 2015, I adopted my best friend Luke from the Paws In Prison program working with Machelle. She and I talked on the phone and I texted her many pictures and videos of Luke over the years. She was so compassionate in her love for people and animals, especially her dogs! I would’ve liked to have told her one more time how much I appreciated and loved her. I will miss her so much as I know you all will also. Carry on the good work that she started. I’ll send a donation in her memory. Thank you for all you do, and thanks again for my wonderful little companion Luke!
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Becky P: I felt like I made a forever friend in Machelle. What a woman and what a champion for other women and for all the dogs that she loved and whose lives she made whole.
Misty C: Ms. G earned her wings long before she was given them. When starting this program, I don't think she realized how many lives she was going to be saving! I had the honor of being in her program and having her as a personal friend. She was a symbol of strength; my rock through tough times. I could always depend on her for that positive push to continue on. She saw something in me that I didn't and she never gave up on me. Thank you Ms. G for being my guiding light at the end of a dark tunnel that opened the door to a very bright future.
Amy M: Miss you Ms. G. I was blessed to know you
Marsha S: You are very missed Ms. G we will love you always
Joanne S: She found us our "Dash" Forever grateful to this sweet woman.
Heather S: She was truly an inspirational woman. I’m glad I had a chance to meet her.
Jill L: I believed there was no hope for me. Through the system, I was given the privilege to go through a faith based program, then to Lockhart to Paws in Prison where Ms. G and all the staff on the unit invested in my life. I wonder where my life would be had not people like Ms. G invested in me when I had 0 chances left. With God all things are possible.
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