ROCKWELL CITY - As inmates of North Central Correctional Facility, the offenders there have little freedom or independence.

Ironically, many of these offenders spend much of their time working to give others the most independence they've ever had.

"It's kind of a paradox," said Rod Haneline, Chief Operating Officer of Leader Dogs for the Blind, Sunday at NCCF's eight annual Puppy Days event, which recognizes the offenders' efforts to train dogs for the sight-impaired.

According to Haneline, use of a guide dog "changes the way people perceive their lives," giving the sight-impaired the confidence to live their lives independently.

"It changes peoples' lives every day," he said.

However, it isn't only the blind that benefit from this program, in which NCCF is the only correctional facility in Iowa to participate.

"I can safely say it changed my outlook on life," said Jack Goode, an NCCF offender, who spoke with his leader dog Nikki at his side.

Goode said that the program has taught him what it means to give something back, and how it can feel just as good as receiving something.

"For me, I'm ashamed to say there was nothing," said Goode, that he had given back. "For these people to trust me with this type of responsibility means a lot to me."

Another offender, John Mohr, said he was "grateful to give back after all the damage I've caused."

He said he was now raising his second leader dog in the program and it has helped him to open up.

"When I came to prison I put up a big wall so people wouldn't see my true colors. But when I became a part of the leader dog program it didn't take long until I was like 'Here puppy, puppy, puppy.' This was a big turning point for me," said Mohr, "I no longer wanted to be the person I thought I had to be."

A packed auditorium was treated to a number of drill team shows with the dogs, skits based on this years event's '70s theme, a meet and greet with the offenders who work for a year with roughly 50 dogs within the Leader Dog program and several speakers including Laura Stangle, who received a dog through the program.

Stangle said thanks to the program she now walks confident with her dog Hans at her side.

"It has changed my life more than most people will ever know," she said.

According to Warden Jim McKinney, 89.2 percent of the dogs in the program at NCCF graduate to become leader dogs, "which is about as good as you can get it."

Perhaps more importantly, 92 percent of the offenders who work in the program are "successful," meaning they do not return to prison after their release

McKinney said locking people up and throwing away the key only to let them out in a few years has proved unsuccessful. Instead, within this program offenders are treated with respect and are shown what it means to give as well as receive.

The program receives no money from the state, and is funded entirely by the Lion's Club and private donations.

"We couldn't do it without all of you," said Leader Dog Counselor Carol Kirkbride, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

Contact Ian Schmit at (515) 573-2141 or ischmit@messengernews.net