A LITTLE OFF THE SIDES INMATES LEARN SKILLS, KEEP DOGS TRIMMED.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

CASTAIC -- A hand-drawn cartoon greets visitors to one of the loudest areas at the Pitchess Detention Center.

``Do not be intimidated by extra-fuzzy dogs,'' the caption reads. ``Remember, there's a dog in there somewhere, and it's your job to find it.''

On Thursday, Simon, an enthusiastic yellow Labrador, and Grizz, a quiet collie-husky mix, were ready for a little attention, sitting at the feet of two men in yellow county-issue pants.

Barking customers alert visitors to the small white cottage classroom, run by Hacienda La Puente Unified School District instructor Debbie Icenogle. For the last 12 years, she's been coaching inmates on the right way to clip, bathe, brush, manicure and groom the canine companions of deputies and support staff on the ranch-like jail grounds.

``I try to impress upon them not to rush,'' she said. ``When they're shaving a dog for the first time, the legs get twisty and the dogs turn when you don't expect it. They're a moving target.''

The program is one of several educational programs offered to the inmates. They can learn skills in a plant nursery, woodworking, laundry, sewing center (where all inmate clothing is made,) painting and a graphic arts/printing program that produces all the publications for the Sheriff's Department.

In the salon area equipped with six grooming tables, inmates also learn from videos and American Kennel Club guidebooks. Their work week is 30 hours long.

``The pit bull is the inmates' favorite dog, but they work with all kinds,'' Icenogle said.

As she spoke, Simon barked and wagged his tail through a shave while Grizz quietly stood, turning right and left for his buzz cut, both happy for the attention. Simon's groomer, who had a bit more experience, moved quickly to keep up with the dog's exuberance; Grizz seemed to sense that his groomer was a little newer at the job, patiently waiting when the inmates conferred on technique.

Inmates come to the program from a variety of sources; they might have previous grooming or barbering experience or the inmate grapevine has ``approved'' them.

``We'll hear that a guy wants to be in the program, so the custody deputies will look at their background and say yea or nay,'' Icenogle said.

She acknowledges there have been problems at the jail complex, which has been the site of several race-related lockdowns this year.

``They try to follow the rules from in there,'' she said, gesturing toward the cell blocks. ``But when they're in here, I tell them they have to work together, and they do.''

The men in the program are sometimes taunted by other inmates, who bark at them or break into a chorus of `Who Let the Dogs Out' when they walk by, she said.

``I think they're jealous. Those guys are out cracking concrete in 115-degree temperatures and my guys are inside in the air conditioning.''

The fluctuating jail population is a challenge for Icenogle, who never knows how many groomers she will have to serve the clients that come in. Daily clients also vary, from two to eight dogs a day, more just before family holidays.

``I usually have two to four guys normally, but some guys come in one day and they're gone because their sentence is up or they get transferred.''

She hears about ``alumni'' success in a variety of ways; either she gets a call or hears through the grapevine that a groomer has hired one of her students. And she also sees many return to the program when they return to the jail.

What she swears by is the calming effect the dogs seem to have on their groomers, a ``softening'' she sees every day.

While Simon ran around the enclosure outside, Grizz's groomer finished and cleaned up his table. Even though he knew his friend was outside, he gave a quiet whine and looked hopefully at the man standing above him. The canine charm worked. Getting down on his knees, the groomer gave Grizz a tummy-rub that sent the dog's paws in the air and put an ear-to-ear smile on both their faces.

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color; 1 -- 2 -- ran in SAC edition only; 3 -- color in SAC edition only) At top, a sign advertises the grooming facility at the Pitchess Honor Ranch. At left, an inmate grooms Buddy at the grooming facility. Debbie Icenogle, above, runs the program. Inmates in the program learn dog grooming while serving time at the jail. Deputies and prison employees bring their dogs in for grooming.

(4 -- ran in AV edition only) An inmate gives a haircut to Grizz, a collie-husky mix, at the grooming facility at the Pitchess Honor Ranch. Inmates in the program learn dog grooming while serving time at the jail. Jail employees bring their pets in for grooming.

David Crane/Staff Photographer