Joan Dalton of Project POOCH

Host Melinda Bernert speaks with Joan Dalton of Project POOCH, a non-profit organization at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Oregon.  Project POOCH matches abused, neglected and unwanted shelter dogs with incarcerated youth.  The youth train the dogs to pass a basic obedience test and then find the dogs forever, loving homes. Project POOCH is a pioneer in prison dog therapy. Started 15 years ago by Joan Dalton, the program has since saved the lives of hundreds of shelter dogs that would otherwise be euthanized and given often forgotten youth an opportunity to learn compassion, patience, responsibility and the power of the animal human bond.