The three dogs are regular visitors at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, and they know the drill. They calmly walk through metal detectors at the entrance to the East Liberty facility and then trot into a classroom.

Sassy, Sammy and Joey wag their tails, waiting to be unleashed so they can meet and greet the eight teenage girls sitting in chairs arranged in a semicircle.

But first, an important question from Gretchen Fieser, director of public relations and business relationships at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. The dogs are her personal pets, and she adopted them from the shelter.

"Is anyone afraid of dogs?" she asks.

"I used to be, but I got over it," one girl says.

Sassy, 8, a tiny, fluffy Pomeranian, breaks the ice. She prances over to the girl sitting at the end of the circle and dances on her hind legs until the girl smiles, giggles and pets her. Then Sassy moves on to the next girl.

Sammy, 9, a black Labrador retriever, goes to the other end of the circle, getting pats and praise from each girl.

Some of the girls cast doubtful looks in the direction of Joey.

"Who can tell me what kind of dog Joey is?" Ms. Fieser asks.

"Pit bull!" several girls respond in unison.

"What can you tell me about pit bulls?" Ms. Fieser asks.

"They're mean!" one girl answers, and the others nod their heads in agreement.

"Pit bulls are crazy," another girl volunteers.

Joey is neither mean nor crazy and neither are the vast majority of pit bulls, Ms. Fieser explains.

Joey was 12 years old when he came to the shelter in August 2008.

"Someone went to jail, and the family could not keep him," Ms. Fieser says. "People ask me if he was used for fighting, and I honestly don't know the answer. I doubt that he fought because he is so sweet and docile. And now he's a certified therapy dog."

Joey joins the circle, getting his share of pats and hugs.

"These are the nicest dogs in America!" one girl proclaims.

Ms. Fieser has been making weekly visits to Shuman for four years. Often she brings her own dogs. Other times she brings homeless animals from the shelter, including rabbits and snakes. On one memorable visit she brought a pony.

The animals serve multiple functions. They're a pleasant break in the routine for teenagers who are incarcerated and separated from family and friends.

Some residents did not have pets at home, so Ms. Fieser talks about how to handle and care for animals. Some residents have been bitten and attacked by dogs, and Ms. Fieser talks about how training and responsible ownership will produce pets that pose no threat to anyone.

The program is a big hit with Shuman residents and staff, says Raymond Robinson, social services manager, who adds, "I'm a huge fan of animals."

Mr. Robinson is also happy with the effect visiting animals have on residents, including those with severe behavior and mental health problems. An hour petting a rabbit or dog can work wonders, he says.

"This started out as a program for girls, but soon the boys were asking if they could participate," he says. "They know if you want to come back [for return visits] you have to keep your act together. You have to maintain yourself." That includes not getting involved in fights.

Ms. Fieser tells residents about the work done by the Humane Society. In response to her questions, she learns that none of the eight girls has ever been to a shelter, and none has ever heard of spay/neuter programs.

"Let me tell you some numbers," Ms. Fieser says. "From July 1 through Aug. 31, the Humane Society took in 3,049 animals. The total number of cats and kittens was 2,167. The total of dogs and puppies was 778. A total of 104 'others' came in, including rabbits, birds and ferrets."

As Sassy, Sammy and Joey continue their visiting rounds, Ms. Fieser says, "We adopt out as many as we can. Some have foster homes. But some have to be put to sleep."

Some of the girls gasp.

"It's very sad and very hard," Ms. Fieser says. "That's why we spay and neuter every animal at the Humane Society. We don't want them to reproduce because there just are not enough homes."

The Humane Society is looking for a new sponsor to keep the program going. The cost is about $4,000 to $5,000 a year. When another company sponsored the program, animals visited Shuman twice a week. For now the animals are visiting once a week. For further information, call 412-321-4625.