In 1993, Joan Dalton founded Project POOCH, a non-profit organization that matches incarcerated youth with unwanted shelter dogs. Joan so deeply believed in the healing power of dogs, that she sold her home to start Project POOCH. Since that time, Project POOCH has saved the lives of countless shelter dogs that would otherwise be euthanized and helped to turn around the lives of hundreds of troubled youth. 15 years later, Joan still works long hours, often seven days a week, to make sure that Project POOCH continues to touch the lives of these overlooked and forgotten boys and shelter dogs with behavioral issues.
Project POOCH teaches responsibility, compassion, patience and unconditional love helping boy and dog to learn to trust, often for the first time in their lives. Sandra Merriam, Ph.D., Pepperdine University, surveyed MacLaren staff and youth enrolled in the program in structured interviews. She reviewed recidivism data and found zero recidivism among the Project POOCH youth she interviewed. Project POOCH is an unqualified success.
Joan's vision for this prison dog program has inspired others in the U.S. and abroad to start similar programs. She has traveled to Korea, Japan and Europe to share her knowledge with others. A program that started with only one dog and one youth has become a model for others who share the same passion and concern to rehabilitate troubled youth and unwanted dogs. Susie Waki nominated Joan and says, "Joan Dalton is an inspiration to me and too many others in our community."
