Dog days: An interview with Link, official spokesdog of Project Second Chance Monroe
Editor’s note: In advance of the dog days of summer, we caught up with Link, the official spokesdog of Project Second Chance Monroe and Woof Lodge, for an update on their collaborative mission to teach at-risk youth how to train homeless shelter dogs to increase their chances of adoption. Graciously interrupting one of his many naps of the day, he sat up, took a drink of water and agreed to be interviewed.
To begin, what qualifies you for this position?
I have an elevated perspective of Project Second Chance Monroe (PSCM) and Woof Lodge (WL) from 4 feet off the ground. More importantly, I have close connections to the right person, Cheryl Wassus, CPDT-KA, who just happens to be the PSCM coordinator and dog trainer.
What’s the need for Project Second Chance Monroe?
There were 439 confirmed cases of abuse and/or neglect involving 662 youth in Monroe County in 2021-22, said Deborah Gambino, child welfare program manager for Monroe Health and Human Services.
Jackie Monteer, president and acting director of the Monroe Humane Society, told me that an estimated 500 dogs are sheltered in their facility annually. The need is too great to simply roll over and ignore.
What makes the Project Second Chance Monroe program effective?
Each at-risk youth is assigned a shelter dog to care for and work with, allowing them to shift focus from themselves and the negative influences in their lives. Under the supervision of a professional, they learn the values of patience, focus, connection and commitment.
The youth walk us, clean our kennels and the yard, brush us and perform other care and training duties that require empathy, nonverbal communication, patience, impulse control, decision making, judgment and responsibility.
According to Donna Cherba, retired juvenile probation officer and PSCM board member, the youth tune not only into their own emotions but also mine.
It’s all about succeeding in a new experience and doing something they wouldn’t ordinarily do.
What’s the relationship of Woof Lodge to Project Second Chance Monroe?
Woof Lodge is a nonprofit business that supports and shares space with PSCM. Its services include dog day care, boarding, training and grooming.
Putting the two groups together unleashes the healing power of the human-animal bond.
I speak straight from the heart for us dogs that this is a pawsome collaboration dedicated to giving at-risk youth and homeless shelter dogs a second chance at living a full, rewarding life. The lessons the youth learn by training the dogs can be applied to the various challenges they face in their daily lives. In turn, the shelter dogs develop traits that allow them to smoothly transition into permanent, loving homes.
Both receive a new leash on life.
How do at-risk youth relate to shelter dogs?
Many of my shelter canine friends have been neglected and abused so we connect with the at-risk youth we serve on a deep level because we’ve experienced similar trauma.
Like you, we have rich emotional lives, exhibiting a wide of feelings including fear, anger, pain, surprise, happiness, sadness and love.
We’re also expected to know right from wrong and to be able to think rationally. That isn’t always the case. Sometimes we drop the ball.
Despite any trouble the youth might be going through, we have a unique ability to offer unconditional love, comfort and friendship in a way that you humans often aren’t able to provide.
What happens when the teens complete the program?
At the conclusion of each training session is a graduation ceremony for the students. We receive extra treats and a belly rub.
While we provide counseling and continuing opportunities to develop the life skills they have learned, it makes me sad to see teens leave after a life-changing three weeks only to return to what is many times a painful environment of bad friends, disciplinary challenges and bad habits.
This is a crucial time for these youth to not feel abandoned.
If you ever need a heart-opening experience, join me at one of our graduations – very few parents attend – and listen to the speeches of the graduates:
“I wish my mom would have participated in this program so she would understand that hitting and violence doesn’t work. It just makes me more angry and withdrawn.”
“Project Second Chance gave me a chance to do something good. I don’t get to feel that way very often.”
“I was taught to love myself and be the person inside I always knew that I was.”
How’s renovation at the new place going?
Demand for our services has created the need for more space than what’s available at the Monroe County Youth Center, our original location.
COVID-19 and on and off again real estate deals caused a major delay in securing a permanent home.
We finally were able to purchase the former Jefferson Public Schools Administration Building, 2400 N. Dixie Highway, and are working our tails off to get it ready so we can help many more at-risk youth and needy dogs.
We’re excited to have come this far through the generosity of local businesses, charitable foundations and community members like you.
I’m also a member of Jefferson High School’s Woof Lodge Club. We recently raised $465 selling WL bracelets and treats to fellow students. Jodi Brooks, dean of virtual learning and our club’s sponsor, tells us that caring for animals like me teaches how to better care for others and ourselves.
Now the real work begins. We’re facing the unanticipated expense of a new HVAC. While we’re awaiting an estimate, I’m sure it will be a lot of bones. We need to fetch some money.
How will you raise the additional funding?
Like me, you humans like to chase a little white ball around a field and get praised for how many times you retrieve it and drop it in a hole.
You can help get our facility up and running and our tails wagging by participating in our golf outing, Golf Fore Kids and Dogs, Changing Two Lives with One Swing, on June 23 at Sandy Creek Golf Course, Monroe.
We don’t receive any government funding, depending solely on contributions and volunteers.
I don’t want you to feel guilty, but I was told that Americans spend $61 billion on their pets each year. Seventy-seven percent admit to buying their dogs birthday presents. You can help us get a leg up by visiting our website at www.projectsecondchancemonroe.org to make a tax deductible contribution.
We’re also seeking a repeat of divine intervention. I overheard Marji McIntyre, PSCM founder and executive director, say the other day that “God helped us with real estate. Hopefully, He also has expertise in plumbing and heating.”
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
My fellow dogs agree with me that it’s pawsome to see troubled youth go from at-risk to hopeful, accepting the past to make way for their future. And for my shelter friends to be ready to find a forever home.
To know that both are getting a second chance at life is worth more than finding every bit of open food in the house and a hundred peanut butter dog treats, my favorite.
How do you honor service members?
Service members are taught to count on the person next to them. Many times they don’t have similar support when they return home from a tour of duty. A trained dog can provide that security.
It’s our privilege to provide a free companion dog to those who have unselfishly served our country.
Any final thoughts?
I just want to point out that Americans own around 77 million dogs while only 58 million own cats. We even have our own cable channel, DOGTV. We must be doing something right.
Like we teach the youth, it’s important to paws and live in the present moment, let go of everyday grievances and live life to its fullest.
I’ve had a ruff time answering all these questions. I’m dog tired and need to take another nap.
Any chance of getting a treat?
Michael Kiefer is a former reporter and columnist for the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Flint Journal. He can be reached at mikekiefer12@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Link, official spokesdog of Project Second Chance Monroe, gives update
