Tito Tyson, a long-time director of volunteers and instructor with Puppies Behind Bars, works closely with incarcerated individuals to train dogs for police, military professionals, and veterans. 

 

His role includes visiting correctional facilities every Friday to teach essential skills and guide incarcerated trainers through the dog-training process. Volunteers, such as Mrs.Goldstone, program supporters, as they: offer to socialize the dogs outside of prison, take them to doctor's visits, and ensure they gain comfort in public settings—including bringing them to Westlake High School so students can interact with them. 

 

When new volunteers join, Mr.Tyson is the main individual who trains them on proper handling techniques, and he additionally helps prepare police, those in the military, and veterans. During times like these, he helps them learn how to use their assigned dogs and understand the benefits they provide.

 

At Westlake, Mr. Tyson's visits have become a meaningful part of student life since he first began coming on November 23, 2022. Students highly value seeing the dogs, and the number of visitors increases each year. 

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Although Tyson currently visits twice annually, many students hope for more frequent opportunities. His presence also encourages conversations about mental health and highlights the positive impact dogs can have on people and society. Students especially benefit from the interactive demonstrations Mr.Tyson provides, such as teaching commands like "peekaboo" and "kiss”. 

 

The experience with the dogs allows students to explore personal interests—particularly those interested in fields related to vets or pets — and gain valuable insight through Tyson's demonstrations and guidance.