Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 08/03) - Inmates at the North Slave young offenders facility will begin showering the pound's hounds with much needed attention and exercise this fall.

Youths, supervised by staff, will take lonely dogs of all shapes and sizes on regular romps around town.

The program -- a partnership between the jail and SPCA -- will teach kids how to properly care for a dog.

It also gives them an opportunity to contribute to the community and be seen in a positive light, said Dean Gambin, program coordinator at the youth jail.

As youths in the facility inch closer to their release dates and show signs of becoming more trustworthy, they spend more time in the community.

Walking the hounds is just one way of helping reintegrate the young people into society, said Gambin.

Although some youths walked the dogs earlier this summer, the program officially begins this fall.

One inmate, who took a dog out earlier this year, said he's looking forward to more trips.

Another youth said he's glad to help out. "The dogs need some love, they need someone to take care of them," he said.

"And they need exercise."