By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
Taylor spent most of her early life behind the walls of a New Jersey women’s correctional facility.
Now the black Labrador is answering a higher calling, sniffing out bombs and shell casings for the ATF.
The two-year-old dog, who is more hyper than her explosives-detecting predecessor, shares a home with his veteran agent handler, Nic Garlie of the St. Louis ATF office, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports in an uplifting story about second chances and America’s best friend.
Taylor was raised by prison inmates under a program called, Puppies Behind Bars, which gives criminals an opportunity to raise puppies that are being groomed to work for agencies such as the ATF. It gives inmates a sense of responsibility and provides positive interactions.
“They really feel like part of them leaves prison when the dog succeeds and goes on to work,” Gloria Gilbert Stoga, the program’s founder, said.
One of Taylor’s handlers, Neville, spent much of her 12 years behind bars alone, bored and without much to accomplish.
The four-legged friend changed Neville’s outlook, according to her journal entries.
“It is a wonderful nervous energy to think while I am locked in this world, I can still be a service to someone,” Neville wrote.
Now Taylor is prepared to help keep America safe.
