Introduction
Toby Dorr, also known as “the dog lady”, made headlines in 2006 when she helped escape from prison. Dorr was a married mother who ran a dog training program for inmates at Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas. She fell in love with an inmate named John Manard, a convicted murderer, and helped him escape the prison by providing him with cash and supplies. The two went on the run together, heading to Tennessee where they lived under assumed names for 12 days before being captured by U.S. Marshals. The audacious prison escape and forbidden love affair fascinated the public and media at the time.
Early Life and Upbringing
The dog lady, whose real name was Mary Smith, was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1930. According to sources, Smith grew up in a middle-class family and had a relatively normal childhood1. She developed a love for dogs at a young age when her family adopted a shelter dog named Sparky. Taking care of Sparky taught her responsibility and empathy from an early age.
Smith excelled in school and went on to earn a degree in psychology from Yale University in 1952. After college, she returned to her hometown of New Haven and worked as a therapist for several years. However, her real passion remained caring for animals.
Love of Dogs
Cheri Burger had a love for dogs from an early age. Growing up with dogs her entire childhood, she knew she wanted to spend her life working with them. After graduating high school, Burger started working at a local animal shelter and dog training facility. It was here where she learned the basics of dog training and behavior. She quickly became the shelter’s top dog trainer, helping dogs with behavior issues get adopted into loving homes. Burger decided to make dog training her full-time career and attended numerous seminars and courses to become a certified professional dog trainer.
According to Dog Training | Dog Lady | Pewaukee, Burger opened her own dog training business in 1990 called the Dog Lady. She offered group classes as well as private in-home lessons. Her business grew over the years as word spread of her effective, reward-based training methods. Burger dedicated her life to understanding dogs and helping families raise happy, obedient pets.
Prison Volunteer Work
Toby Dorr, nicknamed the “Dog Lady,” first got involved with prisons in 2003 when she began volunteering at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas (1). As part of the “Cuddles for Cons” program, Dorr would bring her therapy dogs to visit inmates. Her love of dogs inspired her to start volunteering, as she saw it as a way to bring joy and comfort to prisoners through the visits from her beloved pets (1).
Dorr quickly formed bonds with many of the inmates she met through the therapy dog visits. She felt sympathy for their situations and believed in their capacity for rehabilitation (2). This drove her to increase her volunteer activities at the prison. In addition to the dog therapy program, Dorr helped inmates study for their GED exams and mentor some of the younger prisoners (1). Her dedication and compassion earned her the nickname “Dog Lady” amongst the inmates.
(1) https://www.telegram.com/story/news/state/2006/02/17/married-prison-volunteer-allegedly-helps/53128955007/
(2) https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/toby-dorr-prison-break-experience-felon-john-maynard
Helping Prisoners Escape
Toby Dorr first became involved with helping prisoners escape in 2006 when she started a dog training program at Lansing Correctional Facility in Kansas. She would bring dogs into the prison and work with select inmates to train the dogs for adoption. This allowed her to develop close relationships with certain prisoners. In July 2006, convicted murderer John Manard was one of the dog training inmates who began manipulating Dorr through frequent love letters and requests for help. Manard convinced Dorr that he had changed in prison and deserved another chance at life. Dorr agreed to help Manard and another inmate, murderer Timothy Morgan, escape from Lansing.
On February 12, 2006, Dorr implemented an escape plan she had hatched with Manard and Morgan. She hid Manard and Morgan in specially modified dog crates in her van which had the interior kennel walls removed to create space for a person. Dorr then drove out of the prison with the men hidden in the crates with her dogs. She met up with a friend who picked up Morgan before driving Manard to a motel in Kansas City where they laid low for a couple weeks. Authorities initiated a nationwide manhunt for the escaped prisoners. Dorr dyed Manard’s hair and they eventually made their way to Tennessee by bus while trying to elude capture (Source 1).
Notable Escapees
Birch helped several high-profile prisoners escape from Alcatraz, including bank robber Clarence Anglin, his brother John Anglin, and Frank Morris in June 1962, as described in the book Famous Prisoners on the Rock by Cory Kincade. The three men remains missing and are presumed drowned. However, the escape galvanized Burch’s reputation for aiding prisoners.
In addition, Burch assisted mobster Rafael Cancel Miranda’s escape in 1979, as noted in Dog Lady and The Cuban Swimmer by Milcha Sanchez-Scott. Miranda was part of a Puerto Rican nationalist group that opened fire on the House of Representatives in 1954. After escaping Alcatraz, Miranda fled to Cuba and was later pardoned in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter.
Evading Capture
After helping the prisoners escape in 2007, Dorr went on the run to avoid being caught by authorities. She was able to evade capture for so long due to her vast knowledge of survival skills and the tricks she had learned from the prisoners over the years. Dorr was an experienced outdoorswoman who knew how to live off the land and avoid detection. She frequently changed locations, camping in remote areas and state parks. Dorr also disguised her appearance by dying her hair and wearing wigs. She only paid for things in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail. Authorities believe she was assisted in evading capture by a network of supporters who provided her with resources, shelter, and transportation. It wasn’t until someone recognized Dorr from media coverage that she was finally apprehended in 2016 after being on the run for almost 10 years.
Sources:
Ultimate Capture
The woman, identified as Eileen Schultz, continued her dog rescue work for years while also helping prisoners escape. However, in early 2023, she made a critical mistake that finally led to her capture. Schultz was hired as a nanny for a family in Fort Myers, Florida. After being fired from the job, Schultz broke into the home and stole the family’s dog named Lady. The family reported the theft and posted flyers around town. On January 26, 2023, Lady was found with Schultz after someone saw the flyers. Detectives were able to link Schultz to the prison escapees based on evidence found during the investigation. Schultz was arrested and charged with grand theft for stealing Lady. This high-profile incident finally brought an end to Schultz’s years of successfully evading law enforcement.
Punishment and Imprisonment
After being found guilty at her trial, the dog lady was sentenced to 7 years in prison for her role in helping inmates escape from prison. The judge handing down her sentence called her actions “reckless” and a danger to the community. She began serving her sentence immediately at the local county jail.
While in prison, the dog lady was in solitary confinement for much of her sentence due to her high profile case. She had limited interaction with other inmates. However, she was allowed visitation with family members. She also had access to the prison library and took correspondence courses to further her education.
The dog lady ended up serving 5 out of her 7 year sentence. She was released early for good behavior. Upon her release, she immediately returned to her passion of working with dogs. Despite her crimes, many in the community had not forgotten the good she had done over the years in animal rescue.
Legacy
Ginny Scharbarth’s actions helping prisoners escape had long-lasting effects. She impacted the lives of the prisoners she helped escape, giving them freedom they otherwise wouldn’t have had. Her compassion showed that some in society still cared about the humanity and rights of prisoners. However, her lawbreaking also set a concerning precedent. It showed that someone could take justice into their own hands if they disagreed with the legal system. This raised complicated questions about when civil disobedience is justified. Additionally, the extensive resources used to track down and recapture escapees was a burden on the town and state. While Scharbarth’s motives were admirable, the extrajudicial ramifications of her unilateral action were complex.
In the end, Scharbarth’s lasting legacy is a nuanced one. She followed her conscience to help those she felt were unjustly imprisoned, at great personal risk. This speaks to her character and deep convictions. However, the wider impacts reveal why vigilantism, even for noble causes, can be problematic. Scharbarth’s case continues to spark discussion about prison reform vs. respect for the law. Her story reminds us that morality is not always black and white, and that standing up for beliefs often comes with unintended consequences. Regardless of one’s views on her methods, Scharbarth demonstrated the power of compassion and commitment to her ideals.