Published: November 09, 2009 12:19 pm      

A New Leash On Life helps people, dogs who serve them

HOLDENVILLE — Sometimes people need a new leash on life; a lot of dogs do too.

A non-profit organization by the same name now addresses both needs in Oklahoma through a bevy of volunteers, donations and a dedicated founder and president, Barbara Lewis.

Lewis said A New Leash on Life Inc., has already rescued and trained some 45 homeless dogs from the Ada shelter (P.A.W.S.)through its training program at CCA-Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville.

“These dogs, who were once unadoptable, are now loving, well-trained companions in the community providing comfort and joy to their owners. The program also helps rehabilitate the inmates who earn the privilege of participating in it.

“While most people associate us with dog training, our primary purpose is changing people’s lives,” Lewis said.

“Dogs are just the delivery system, although our programs also enrich and save the lives of many of the dogs we work with.”

New Leash also trains and provides Assistance Dogs for people with disabilities and Therapy Dogs to comfort the sick and elderly.

Prior to starting A New Leash on Life, Inc., Lewis was the Oklahoma field agent for a national assistance dog-training agency for 16 years.

In 2005, that agency ceased to operate in Oklahoma and Lewis and her volunteers decided to continue the program under A New Leash on Life, Inc., which Lewis had already started to provide the inmate training program.

The program teaches inmates to become dog trainers, which Lewis says, has had a significant impact on the inmates.

“They learn a skill, responsibility, provide a community service and find out what unconditional love is all about. The program has proven to reduce aggression and to improve their patience and tolerance of others. We wonder sometimes who is training who?”







Lewis and other New Leash trainers go to the correctional facility every Tuesday to conduct dog-training classes for 20 inmates and 9 dogs. Each dog lives in the cell with two inmates who share training responsibilities for the 10-week program. They are responsible for house training, obedience training and correcting any behavioral problems like barking or chewing.

“In short, they make a-well mannered, more adoptable dog out of one that would probably have ended up euthanized.”

As the inmate handlers, sometimes tearfully, hand the leash of their dog over to its new owner, they receive another dog from the shelter to continue the program. New Leash pays for all the expenses of the program, including food, vet supplies, training treats and supplies.