15 hours ago
Former inmate adopts shelter dog after training him in Kansas prison
A sweet dog named Poet in a Kansas shelter has found a loving home with someone he's already spent loads of time with.
'Yesterday, something truly special happened: Poet, the very first dog to enter our restarted Blue Ribbon Program, found his home — with someone he already loves,' the Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka said in an Aug. 19 Facebook post.
'Poet spent time at the women's correctional facility through this program, where he received training, socialization, and, most importantly, friendship. One of the women who worked closely with him was released yesterday morning. One of her very first stops? Helping Hands Humane Society — to adopt Poet.'
The Blue Ribbon Program originally launched in 1994 and partners the shelter with the Women's Correctional Facility in Topeka.
'We worked with the Correctional Facility to secure a grant for them to build a ten-run kennel and grooming facility on the prison grounds. It took nearly two years for this program to come to fruition, and in July of 1996 the first group of shelter dogs moved to the prison for six weeks,' the shelter says on its website.
Inmates are assigned dogs during an eight-week course and they are in charge of their daily care, training, grooming and more. This helps the pups not only socialize and learn basic training, but also connect with people on a deeper level, hopefully upping their chances of being adopted.
According to the shelter, the program was put on hold for almost 10 years before recently relaunching.
'Poet's story is a beautiful reminder of why this program matters so much — and why second chances are worth celebrating,' the shelter said.
