By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Shelter Dogs Learn New Tricks with Pawsitive Changes
dog graduation
On Feb. 23, Effingham County Prison inmates Tyrik Stargell, Antonio Hartl and Chris Reece (from left) received certificates for completing the Pawsitive Changes program from Kirk Brennaman of Down & Dirty Dog Training. Pawsitive Changes through the Effingham County Animal Shelter, provides five weeks of dog training instruction for inmates, who then work with shelter dogs to make them adoptable. Hartl received special recognition for serving as a mentor to Stargell and Reece. He has 250 hours of service in the program. The inmates and the dogs will show what they have learned at the shelter March 4 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - photo by Photos submitted
Published: Mar 6, 2023, 6:04 PM

SPRINGFIELD – The stars of the March 4 graduation ceremony slated at the Effingham County Animal Shelter won’t receive a diploma. Hopefully, they will earn something infinitely better -- a trip home with a loving owner.

The first Pawsitive Changes exhibition set from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday will feature dogs available for adoption and their inmate trainers from Effingham County Prison. Two inmates, who learned dog training skills from Rincon’s Kirk Brennaman during a five-week program, will receive certificates for helping to turn formerly unmannerly pooches into prospective pets.

The adoption candidates will sit on command, walk on a leash and perform other simple tasks.

“(Eight of the dogs) have been here from anywhere from August to December,” Animal Shelter Director Lorna Shelton said. “They have been through the whole program and this is their second round so we are honing their skills, trying to get them to sit longer and pay attention longer.

“They really, really, really need to leave here.”

The shelter also has a few dogs who are new to Pawsitive Changes, which is the brainchild of Brennaman. The former police officer started sharing his knowledge with inmates a couple months ago.

The first graduating class had four members, including Antonio Hartl, who subsequently settled into a job as a shelter assistant.

“I think (Brennaman) is doing everything basically the same (with the second group of inmates and dogs),” Shelton said. “He’s trying to beef it up a little for Antonio because he has been through the program before. We are working on doing something one step up (from a certificate presentation) for him because he has been a mentor (to the new inmates).”

All the shelter dogs are exposed to training five days a week.

“If the Pawsitive Changes guys aren’t here, (shelter employees) work with them,” Shelton said. “We are trying to make them good citizens so that they can move into a home – and they really need to be going into a home because they have been here way too long.”

Three dogs from the initial Pawsitive Changes series were adopted.

“Their owners say they are doing beautifully,” Shelton said. “Their people raved over them coming into their home. All the people have been pleased with the training that they had.”