WARDS LEARN ANIMAL CARE AT YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

CAMARILLO - Wielding an electric clippers with precision, Darlene Brick sheared the golden locks from a compliant cocker spaniel tethered to her work station.

The sounds of washing, cutting and blow drying - familiar in any hair salon - could be heard one recent weekday morning at Perfect Image Grooming.

``I love animals,'' said Brick, 20, as she held on to one of the dog's legs. ``It's the most demanding job I've ever had.

``I never thought coming to jail I would learn to groom a dog.''

Brick is among 18 wards learning job skills from an animal-care class offered inside the red brick building at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo.

``It's the only one of its kind in the CYA,'' teacher Rhonda Todd said. ``They learn everything they need to run a business themselves.''

The state's only coed CYA facility houses offenders for murder and other serious crimes. Of the 730 wards, 330 are females ranging from 13 to 24 years old, spokesman Al Palomino said.

Three other hands-on classes - culinary arts, business technology, and housekeeping and janitorial - are offered for the women, who are kept separate from the men.

It takes a ward 18 months to learn the ins and outs of the cat and dog grooming business - such as the 155 canine and 100 feline breeds - along with limited veterinarian care, said Todd, who owned a grooming studio in Oxnard for 20 years.

``Some of the girls have never had their hands on an animal before,'' Todd said. ``They were raised in the concrete jungle.''

The wards also learn how to use the computer - inputting their payroll information - along with front desk reception and telephone skills. They are tested on their skills, which can take them into other office and related jobs.

Todd said the employment rate is 85 percent for paroled students who have completed the class.

``I think most of them feel like they are learning something, a lifetime skill,'' she said.

``They feel like part of a team and they are learning something that will support them when they get out of here,'' she said, adding that a job skill helps to keep the recidivism rate low.

The program can accommodate up to 22 wards, who are screened after filling out a ``job'' application. There are currently 10 wards on a waiting list to enroll.

Aleeseya Church, 21, was busy with the task at hand, blow-drying an international champion Samoyed named Chris.

``I just love everything about (the class),'' said Church, who has been enrolled for three years. ``I didn't know anything about computers and now I do.''

The business, located on the CYA grounds, is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and averages 35 to 50 animals a week. The wards spend Tuesdays and Thursdays in technical training, such as learning how to groom a particular breed.

``These ladies do an outstanding job,'' said Christine Weidenheimer, who brings in her flat-coated retriever and Labrador mix every two months for grooming. ``It's good training for them.

``And the dogs love it here. The girls pay a lot of attention to them.''

Weidenheimer, who runs the Juvenile Hall in Ventura, also noted the reasonable price - about one-third of the cost charged by a regular groomer.

The wards would even paint a pet's toenails if the owner desires and for special occasions, such as Christmas, they hand out rawhide chews wrapped with ribbon.

The wards, who have their own business cards, receive a 50 percent commission from grooming the dogs and cats. The money typically goes toward paying restitution to the victim or state, Palomino said. The other half of the profits is channeled back into the program.

When the class first opened in 1980, it volunteered its services to the county Animal Control, giving strays and abandoned pets a makeover before they were adopted. Over the years, the program has expanded its client list to include pets owned by senior citizens, state employees and active military, some coming from as far away as Agoura Hills.

Ineka Edmonson, 19, planned to put her skills to good use when she goes home to Compton in October.

``It'll pay my way through school,'' said Edmonson, who wants to become a journalist.

``It's been a really good experience,'' agreed Brick, who plans to tailor her grooming skills - to work on people.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 --color) Darlene Brick, 20, is among the wards at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility who are learning animal care, including how to groom pooches.

(2 -- color) Nicole Brown, 20, blow drys one of her clients at the Perfect Image Grooming at the California Youth Correctional Facility.

Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News