A juvenile treatment institution in St. Paul, The Renaissance Program at Boys Totem Town, has troubled teens who come from tough backgrounds teaching stray dogs how to be therapy animals.

An 18-year-old delinquent named Eric from Minnesota has been working with Shane, a Doberman who was once abused from Pennsylvania. Superintendent Tom McGinn says that “by teaching dogs the skills and discipline the boys are trying to learn, the boys will improve their own behavior faster.”

The delinquents who are found at Totem Town have actually been placed there by the judicial system. These troubled teenagers have committed crimes of felony-level offenses but this treatment institution actually helps them.

The dogs, themselves, are actually unfit for adoption. Most of them are either old or disabled. A number have been through abuse or neglect and are described as “too wild.” These dogs live in an animal sanctuary found in western Wisconsin— Home for Life. Lisa LaVerdiere, the founder, is quoted saying, “While the sanctuary provides a safe place to live, it also has a mission of community service. Just because a dog's been given up on, it can still go out and contribute, and these dogs can help folks who are in worse off shape.” Luckily, teenage boys can be helped out.

La Verdiere spoke to McGinn about letting the teens teach dogs to even let people smile while watching them outdoors. "We say we help at-risk dogs and at-risk people," LaVerdiere said.

Initially McGinn didn’t know how the program might work out but he eventually realized how parallels existed between what the dogs had to learn and what his students were up to. So far, the program at its second session is doing well.

For a duration of eight weeks, five students meet up with the dogs for at least twice a week.

Community corrections worker, Jayme Brisch, says “It's a way to teach the boys something new and to push them out of their comfort zones.”

By the program’s end, teenagers have their dogs take the Therapy Dogs International certification test. When a dog passes, it can then join the community life, and the teen who trained it can be proud of his accomplishment.

“Dogs are great barometers, they give instant feedback. If the boys are positive and work hard, the dogs will respond," says LaVerdiere.

This positive outlook, empathy, and patience are all important things for the boys to learn.