After kicking off with a "Pals with Paws" Program held Wednesday, May 23, at Tipton Correctional Center, the prison officially became the 18th prison to have implemented the "Puppies for Parole" program.
The program which has prisoners taking abandoned and abused dogs and giving them obedience and special needs training, started over 12 years ago at the women's correctional center in Vandalia. Since then 831 dogs have been taken in, trained, socialized and then adopted out to homes, owners with special needs and veterans homes. Director of Corrections for the State of Missouri George Lombardi helped start the program and has been very pleased with the results.
"It has been a remarkable program in regards to the number of dogs adopted out," Lombardi said. "The more important thing is the profound effect it has had on the offenders involved, the staff of the prisons and atmosphere of the prisons. The best thing which has happened is we have adopted dogs out to mental health facilities, veterans homes and to children with autism."
For more of this story check out the May 30 issue of the California Democrat.