One Month In With The Fantastic Mr. Finn
-One Month In With The Fantastic Mr. Finn-
Me: “Good morning, Mr. Finn.”
Finn wags his tail frantically while he waits for me to open his kennel door.
Me: “Ready to go potty?”
Finn becomes completely silent and still as I slowly swing his kennel door open. He’s eagerly waiting for me to say the “magic words” that will FINALLY allow him to exit his kennel.
Me: “Finn… BREAK!!!”
Finn hears the long-awaited magic words bounce off our cement cell walls and he BURSTS out of his kennel like a kid on Christmas morning. Within ten seconds I’m covered in the cutest, slobbery puppy kisses imaginable.
Finn always finds a way to warm my lonely and hurting dad heart for the day.
The Fantastic Mr. Finn and I have only been “cellies” for a month, but that has given us plenty of time to develop a daily routine and rhythm.
Our typical day in prison starts EARLY — around 5:30 am, 7 days a week. I don’t have an alarm clock in prison, so it took a little while for my body to AUTOMATICALLY wake up before 5:15 am each day. Oh, and before I take Finn out to the “potty yard,” I make sure to throw on some thick thermals because it has been below zero this past week 🥶, and believe me picking up dog poop in sub-zero temperatures is WAY harder than you think. 😉
After Finn finally “relieves” himself in the frigid air, we trot back inside and head straight into the training room. Our early morning training sessions go from about 5:45 am to 6:30 am. I cherish this time with my new friend Finn. All the other puppy trainers are fast asleep, so Finn and I have the entire training room to ourselves.
Recently, we’ve been spending our sacred morning training time working on a skill called “bowl.” To successfully complete this skill, Finn must place his two front paws on top of a big flat black bowl I’ve placed on the ground. Finn looks like a perfect puppy statue when he’s successfully standing with his two front paws on his “bowl.” The Fantastic Mr. Finn LOVES practicing “bowl” first thing in the morning because he knows the second his furry paws hit that smooth black bowl, he’s going to get paid a BUNCH of puppy kibble.
I LOVE seeing Finn’s bright smile after he successfully completes “bowl.”
Prison — and the barb wire fences that surround me — seem to slowly melt away when I’m spending time training The Fantastic Mr. Finn.
Along with “bowl,” I like to use our early morning training session to work on Finn’s “impulse control.” For a young, high-energy puppy like Finn, “impulse control” is NOT easy. To set up our training session, I will sprinkle his favorite puppy treats all over the floor. When Finn looks at me instead of lunging for the tasty treat, he is handsomely rewarded with a mouthful of delicious kibble. All service dogs need unbelievable impulse control for their forever families. Finn needs to learn that HIS PERSON is the most important thing above all else. Developing perfect impulse control will take months and months.
Don’t worry Mr. Finn — we will put in the work. I got you, buddy.
At about 6:30 am, we tiptoe back down the hallway to our silent cell. Finn finds his mat and lays down while I get dressed for “prison work.” Monday through Friday, I work in the biomed repair shop from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. However, every 2 hours I need to race back to my cell to take Finn out to the “potty yard.” Luckily, my awesome cellie “The Networker” trades off with me on taking Finn out during the day. I’m so thankful to have “The Networker” as my cellie now.
Prison staff typically alert all of us “inmate workers” when it’s 2:30 pm and time to return to our cells. “The Networker” and I quickly change out of our "work uniforms" and bring The Fantastic Mr. Finn back to the puppy training room for a fun round of “The Name Game.”
Finn is FANTASTIC at “The Name Game.” Here’s how it works: “The Networker” and I stand about 20 feet apart with Finn in the middle. One of us yells “FINN!!!” and our bright and bubbly pup prances over to whichever trainer yelled his name. Right when Finn makes eye contact with the correct trainer, he is rewarded with NON-STOP puppy kibble. Finn’s big floppy ears perk up when he hears silly humans say his name over and over again. I wish so badly all of you could see Finn’s super smile during “The Name Game.”
We always end our afternoon training sessions with a fast-paced game of fetch. Finn is already bringing all his toys back to us and dropping them right into our hands. INCREDIBLE!!!
Through my dog-training apprenticeship program, I’ve learned that puppies need to sleep AT LEAST 15 to 16 hours a day. I always make sure Finn gets in some good naps throughout the day. From 3pm to 5pm, it’s RELAXING time in the cell.
As the sun sets, we gather a few of Finn’s puppy pals together for a “controlled chaos” play session in the training room. Finn needs to learn that EVEN when he is having a blast with his buddies, he must ALWAYS come back and check in with me. Every successful check-in gets rewarded with 10 pieces of puppy kibble. These high-intensity play sessions typically last about 30 minutes — and Finn is exhausted afterward.
From 6 pm to 8:30 pm, the three of us wind down in our tiny cell together. Finn and I like to hang on his mat — I read a book and he rests his head on my lap.
Prison staff allow us one last “controlled move” at 8:30 pm. I use this time to take Finn to the “potty yard” one final time before bed. By this point, I can barely hold my eyes open and Finn is ready to pass out.
9:00 pm hits quickly, and I’m standing in my cell for our last stand-up count. Once the correctional officer confirms I’m still in prison and alive, my cell door closes and Finn scoots into his kennel.
Before closing my eyes, I whisper, “Goodnight Mr. Finn, I love you.” Finn wags his tail to confirm he hears my silly human words.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing Mr. Finn into my life. I’m beyond thankful to be his prison puppy trainer. Please continue to give me guidance, energy, and wisdom so that I can properly prepare Finn for his forever home. Love you Lord. AMEN!!!”
Finn, your forever family is out there — and they are in desperate need of a miracle right now. It’s my job to get you ready for your God-given destiny.
Let’s do this, Fantastic Mr. Finn.
God continues to mold the mess I created into a miracle. I still can’t believe I get the privilege of training puppies in prison. I’m so thankful for this new purpose in my life.
Love,
Brett (A huge fan of Finn)
-A Note From Noél-
Ok… how flipping cute is The Fantastic Mr. Finn??? My gosh!!! I just can’t!!!
I love letters like this from Brett because I can see that his “DAD” instincts are being activated in prison — and that makes my heart so incredibly happy.
For those of you who don’t know, Brett is one of the most loving, caring, hardworking, and involved fathers you will ever meet. He absolutely adores Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion. Brett has ALWAYS been the best, most hands on father! Even when they were babies there was NEVER a dirty diaper that scared Brett away 😉
And now even behind barbed wire, Brett makes sure to write personalized letters to our children EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Our babies know they are cherished, adored and so extremely loved by their daddy.
As I read through Brett’s latest letter, I can tell he sees himself as Finn’s foster father. He will protect, guide, and champion that pup at all costs. It’s just who Brett is — and who he will always be.
I miss having Brett as my co-pilot in our family’s everyday life. The hurt that sits on my heart is hard to explain. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I feel a part of me is missing. I yearn for my soul to feel whole again.
Brett and I are truly an incredible team who have raised four beautiful children together.
Even though it has been pure torture not having him by my side, I KNOW that someday Brett will be holding me and the kids tight in our home again.
But, until then…
Mr. Finn, please know you have one of the best protectors on the planet loving and leading you right now. Finn, give Brett lots of slobbery kisses every single day for me — and for Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion.
We believe in you, Brett and Finn.
Show that cynical dog hallway what happens when two amazing souls team up.
“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for bringing The Fantastic Mr. Finn into Brett’s life. You are allowing Brett’s loving DAD HEART to flourish in a dark place. Thank you for preserving the man we all love. We are so thankful for your protection and mercy, Jesus. We love you. AMEN!!!”
The Bartletts will continue to fight every single day for Brett’s future freedom.
Someday, my forever person will be holding me in his arms again,
and I so hope and pray that someday comes soon.
Love,
Noél (A hurting, hopeful, and thankful wife)
