We at Prison Call Deals strongly believe that behind every good deed there is an even better story. That is why we were delighted to read an article from the Huffington Post about one extraordinary event that took place in August in a maximum security prison in Lancaster, California.

This Level 4 prison became home to five very lucky dogs – Shelby, Oreo, Rendell, Chuey and Eddie – thanks to Karma Rescue, a nonprofit organization that saves dogs from high-kill shelters across Southern California. These guys partnered with the California State Prison Los Angeles County in Lancaster to create a program that matches rescued dogs with inmates who train them to boost the odds of adoption. The program “Paws for Life” was actually the first program in California to take place in a high-security prison with inmates serving life sentences.

One of the conditions for inmates to enter this program was for them to write an essay, reflecting on their lives. Inmates mostly wanted to feel useful to the society but some of them wanted to prove that prisoners actually have something good in them and that they have redeemable qualities. Most of them were more than eager to demonstrate that they do have something good to offer society even if some of them will never be a part of that society.

Every inmate expressed gratitude and testified that this program had touched their hearts. Captain Crystal Wood has only good things to say about the program. She is, alongside with Warden Soto, very positive about it.

“A lot of times in this setting it’s so depressing and you don’t show emotion or feelings and when you have a creature that gives you unconditional love and licks you and doesn’t care – you see men who’ve been in prison for 20 and 30 years break down and cry just for the compassion and the humanity”, Capt. Wood said. “It’s just generally made the yard a calmer place”.

Captain Crystal Wood participated in the program as much as she could

And the great care and good will invested in this program paid off with great news: four dogs from the program were almost immediately adopted into the loving homes. Chosen inmates gained experience and skills that, without any doubt, renewed their own lives. As you can imagine, the program was so successful that it will continue, with 10 new dogs entering prison this month!

You can read more similar stories of successful inmate rehabilitation through contact with dogs, and other stories of inmate support, in our BUZZ section, and you can contribute to the discussion, by sending us your comments and contributions – YOUR VOICE!

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