Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 24

OPERATION

love

Training jail dogs offers inmates hope

MELISSA KOHNE

BY PAMELA A. KEENE

H

Group training classes for the inmates and their rescue dogs are part of Operation New Hope.
When an inmate is paired with a dog, they spend all their time together for four weeks.

'One day, I hope to
turn my love for dogs
into a career. None of
this would have
been possible if not for
Operation New Hope.'

ave you ever heard of
Wilcher began Operation New
a former jail inmate
Hope, a training program that
writing a thank-you
gives dogs classified as unlikely
letter to the sheriff? It's true. Bobto be adopted-and Chatham
bie (for privacy reasons, only her
County Jail inmates-a second
first name is being used) wrote a
chance at a better life. In the
letter to Chatham County Sheriff
beginning, the program worked
John Wilcher about how her time
with the HSGS to pair male
in jail changed her life.
inmates with rescued dogs. Once
"I just wanted to thank you
trained, the dogs were eligible
for everything!" she wrote. "I
for adoption by members of the
-Bobbie, former Chatham
was in the dog program, and it
community.
County Jail inmate
was such a blessing in my life.
After Wilcher was elected
Through it I discovered I had a
Chatham County sheriff in 2016,
true passion for dogs. Training them and helping them
he expanded the program to include female inmates.
find homes was so fulfilling."
"Inmates learn a skill and gain some stability and
Since her release, she regularly volunteers at the
confidence, dogs that might have been euthanized are
Humane Society for Greater Savannah (HSGS). "One
saved, and people adopt these trained dogs that at one
day, I hope to turn my love for dogs into a career," she
point had no hope," he says. "It's a wonderful program
wrote. "None of this would have been possible if not
where everyone is a winner."
for Operation New Hope."
Operation New Hope conducts a dozen fourBobbie's story is one of many. In 2010, as a jail adweek programs each year. Eight male and eight female
ministrator with decades of service in law enforcement,
inmates are selected to socialize and train rescue dogs
24

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2018

Contents
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 3
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 5
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 6
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 7
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 8
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 9
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 10
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 11
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Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 24
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 25
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Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 41
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - 42
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Cover3
Georgia Magazine - July 2018 - Cover4
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