With good behavior, dogs get out in 9 weeks

The prison marked graduation of the 100th dog trained and 250,000 of community service work hours.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LEAVITTSBURG -- A partnership between Trumbull Correctional Institution and the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County helped Jonna Dunn get her 11th birthday present.
Since December 1999, dogs from the Animal Welfare League have been trained by inmates for nine weeks, using basic commands the animals will follow when adopted by local families.
Mike Dunn, Jonna's father, has worked at TCI for about 10 years.
"For her 11th birthday, my daughter told me and my wife that she wanted a dog," Dunn said. "She made a list of 10 commandments of everything she would do for the dog -- walking him, cleaning up after him, feeding him."
Dunn spotted Simon, a beagle mix, during training by inmates Tyrone Jones and Terrance Lightning. He had one of the corrections officers take a photograph of the dog and took it home.
"My wife showed my daughter the picture and from day one, for about eight weeks she's been in love with the little guy," Dunn said.
Jonna, who turned 11 last month, saved her money from selling programs at Niles McKinley High School football games to buy a leash, collar, food dish and other items for Simon.
100th graduate
Simon is the 100th dog to graduate from the program. TCI conducted a media day event Tuesday at the prison, marking the 100th graduation as part of the day's activities. The prison also marked 250,000 hours of community service for this year, an increase of more than 50,000 hours from 2001.
Dunn took Simon home Tuesday evening. Dogs live in the cells with inmates, who train and housebreak them to prepare them for adoption.
The dog training program is just one of the activities offered to TCI inmates.
Art
James Z. Spahn of Cuyahoga Falls uses acrylic paints, colored pencils and pastels to express himself. His works include paintings of a buffalo, bears, roses and a cat.
"I'm going to send the one of the cat to my sister," Spahn said. "We both love animals."
Spahn has been at TCI for about two years, serving seven years on a conviction for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary. He plans to continue with his art when he's released from prison.
Eric Gardenhire, recreation administrator at the prison, said the art is taken to area schools, where pupils discuss the works.
"These are programs we're proud of and that have real rehabilitative effects," said Warden Julius Wilson.
Paul Buehler of Tuscarawas County started with the dog training program about a year ago and has trained seven dogs. He also participates in the art program at the prison started a few months ago.
Buehler, who is serving a 30-years-to-life sentence for aggravated murder and robbery, creates Harley Davidson motorcycle models out of matchsticks.
"I wanted to make something that represents freedom," Buehler said. "To me, that's what a Harley represents."
The artwork makes him more productive with his time and working with dogs has made him a better person, he said.
Giving up the dogs can be difficult though.
"I'm the one that cries," Buehler said. "I went from a hardened criminal to a guy that cries."
His father left when Buehler was 4 years old, and Buehler spent time in foster homes before being adopted. He acknowledges he made "bad mistakes and bad choices."
"This made me realize that not everything in life is bad," Buehler said.
dick@vindy.com