Boone’s Story

From Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan (http://www.rpsm.org/) in Coldwater, Michigan

Hi. My name is Boone. I want to tell my story of how JUST a shelter dog can change someone’s life. I am from LaGrange, Indiana, where I was in ARK Animal Shelter for two and a half months. My brother, Banjo, and I both ended up in the shelter together. However, I was lucky enough to be pulled out of the shelter by the nice people of Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan (RPSM.) RPSM took me to the Coldwater, Michigan men’s prison where I was incarcerated for 10 weeks with my inmate trainers through the Prison Companionship Program. I lived with my two trainers in the prison. Even though the nice people at the shelter loved me and did their best, I was so excited to be around people all day long and to have my very own bed to sleep in! 

My trainers taught me so many things. I learned to sit, stay, walk nicely on a leash and many other basic manners. I also learned how to pull doors open, stabilize someone while walking and pick things up on command. These last commands will be used on a daily basis for my new best friend and owner. My owner has cerebral palsy, and I am his service dog. I got to go home with him on Friday, December 18, 2015. I can’t wait to show him all that I have learned and to have an important purpose in life. It just show what JUST a shelter dog can do!