INMATES
o Participants learn to redirect their focus from themselves to care for another.
o They learn valuable, marketable job skills.
o There is satisfaction as they volunteer their time to save an animal’s life.
o It allows the opportunity to return something positive to the community.
o A healthy, well socialized, and well-adjusted pet.
oThere is a sense of accomplishment and pride when the dog successfully graduates.
STAFF
o Adds a successful and popular vocational program.
o Improves inmate cooperation.
o Inmates are more compliant with fewer violations.
o Promotes an institutional environment of less tension and violence while improving communication between staff and inmates.
COMMUNITY
o Provides more productive members of society.
o Provides well-trained dogs for adoption.
o Lowers cost for animal control.
o Lowers recidivism and cost to taxpayers.
o Lowers rate of euthanasia in Lee County’s animal shelters.