I just read an article about various prisons running programs in which neglected, abandoned, or abused dogs are assigned to the care of prisoners rather than being housed in shelters. These people foster the animals, caring for them, training them, and teaching them to trust humans again. Eventually the dogs are ready to move on, into loving adoptive families.
There is a corollary to the successful rehabilitation of the dogs. The prisoners, many of whom are felons due, in great part, to the fact that they, too, grew up neglected, abandoned, or abused, have a revival of their compassion and sense of responsibility. In that way, they are being rehabilitated, just like their waggly wards. Isn’t that what the prison system is supposed to do? Many of these individuals, once released, find jobs in dog grooming, training, and care. Others have refreshed their work ethic and determination to find and do well at a job.
These programs at any prison are small (maybe 20 pup/prisoner teams) but effective. Unlike some other people, I don’t consider this being soft on crime. Rather, I think it’s taking what is good in a person who has done bad and putting it to a use that is beneficial to our animal friends while giving him or her a fighting chance to reintegrate into society rather than re-offending. I, for one, think that’s a good thing.