LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Serving time behind bars comes with its challenges, but for one group, it also comes with finding a new purpose.
“We’ve made a mistake to come here, but given an opportunity, we make the most of it,” said Scott Scheira, an inmate at Niagara County Jail.
That opportunity comes in the form of puppies.
“Mac’s a fast learner. Very playful dog,” said Scheira.
Mac is, quite literally, a model inmate.
“This is our fifth dog with the Buffalo Sabres,” said Chris Kreiger, president and founder of WNY Heroes. “As you see each year, I think the dogs are getting better and better, and obviously cuter.”
Mac, a Newfoundland dog, is part of WNY Heroes’ “Pawsitive for Heroes” program.
“So we’ve been here since 2020 […] and since then everyone else has heard about it, so it has taken off,” Kreiger added.
Expanding to six correctional facilities in New York, the dogs get trained by inmates.
“This is the second time I’ve had a dog in this program,” said Scheira.
Once trained, dogs go to vets in need.
“Mac is named after [Sgt. Heath A. McMillin] who was killed in Iraq in 2003, was a member of the 105th MP company,” Kreiger said. “This dog is also going to a soldier who was a part of the 105th MP company and served with Mac at the same time.”
Before that can happen, Mac’s gotta do some exposure training, both at the jail and at Sabres games.
“Your dog has to ignore everything that’s on the floor and cannot eat it,” said Kreiger, as he spread food wrappers on the ground to test the dogs.
“What does everybody do when they see a puppy? They go right for the face, you know,” Kreiger added. “We want to truly make sure that our obedience with the dog is the best of the best that’s out there.”
If anyone thinks they won’t be drawn in by this fluff ball, think again.
“It does get us a lot more recognition. And who doesn’t love having a puppy at the game,” said Kreiger.
Progress comes one paw at a time.
“This dog’s bar this week is a little lower than the other dogs,” said Jason Slocum, a dog trainer with Communicanine. “That’s ok.”
Lessons not just for the dogs, but for their trainers too.
“Who knows? Going on down the road, getting out, I may do something with dogs. I really enjoyed this,” Scheira noted.
When it’s all said and done, one thing’s for sure. These cuties won’t have a hard time getting out on “good boy” behavior.
“It’s because of Western New York and everybody across the country who is donating now and wanting to sponsor a dog for a veteran in their town,” noted Kreiger. “It’s because of them that we’re able to do what we do.“