3 years ago
Homosassa, Florida - The National Greyhound Foundation (NGF) headquartered in
The offenders at the Hernando Co. Jail in Brooksville will be in the first pilot program.
CCA staff and inmate caretakers who qualify are trained to become Greyhound Obedience trainers and train the greyhounds in the five basic obedience commands.
During a 12-week training session, inmates share their cells and care for the dogs 24/7, while socializing and preparing them for their new adoption homes. Staff oversees the preparation of the dogs for their Greyhound Good Citizen Certification.
The program focuses on spiritual, emotional, and personal growth for the inmates, through the spreading of un-conditional love ? an emotion many inmates have never been exposed to.
The greyhounds are teaching the inmates patience, responsibility and developing parental skills. In many instances, inmates may be experiencing for the first time the concept of working together as a team for the good of something other than themselves.
- Beverly Sebastian/ Executive Director of the National Greyhound Foundation
- ??This program helps solve an ever-increasing problem of where to keep retired greyhounds until they can be adopted. We have high hopes for a much lower recidivism rate with graduating inmates and greyhounds.? ?
At the same time, the correctional facilities are benefiting.
- Chief of Security Doug Conn / Hernando County Jail
- ??I had some reservations at first, but we have seen a number of benefits?I have no negatives to report.? ?
- Chief Doug Fender / National Greyhound Foundation
- ??Our goal was to establish a program that would permit female prisoners to re-connect with their maternal instincts and rediscover through the care for these animals a purpose for leading a productive life. They have already noted a change in the attitude within their facilities and are working to expand it into the male facilities. ?
Sebastian estimates 6,000 greyhounds and more than 18,000 inmates will be touched by the program each year, when fully operational. 2nd Chance at Life has placed over 300 greyhounds in the program in
- Warden Don Stewart / Hernando County Jail
- ??This is a great example of a win-win situation?there is a need to retain these dogs, rather than discard them.? ?
Department of Correction facilities are offering their volunteers all over the country to help save these Florida Greyhounds.
We have found a way to help the Greyhound Industry save many more of their retiring greyhounds and we hope that they and the Florida State Legislators will join us in this program. As Warden Stewart says, it's a win-win situation for everyone concerned.? Says Mrs. Sebastian as she looks to the future.
The 2nd Chance at Life: Greyhound & Inmates Corrections Partnership is the fastest growing network of foster care homes between the NGF, State Department of Corrections Partners, Adoption Partners, Greyhound Kennel Operators and Tracks, nationwide. It is currently operating with Department of Correction (DOC) partners in
The National Greyhound Foundation, founded in 1994, is a nationwide IRS-recognized 501 © (3) non-profit organization that provides benefits, services and assistance to Retired Racing Greyhounds and their Human Owners, Foster parents and the Community at large that support this Animal/Human bond. 2nd Chance at Life is the most exciting program we've found that combines this bond of saving lives and healing spirits.
Founded in 1983, Correction Corporation of
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