Change by Doing Explore the world of volunteering and service

The Missouri Department of Corrections has created a program that benefits shelter dogs and incarcerated offenders. Inmates work with abandoned dogs that are available for adoption, doing obedience training and socialization work as part of their rehabilitation work, ending with dogs that become more desirable for placement in loving homes, and a prisoner population with a new element of humaneness and prep for release while also serving the community by serving the dogs. The Puppies for Parole program is a win/win for all involved, and the director of the program has noted huge strides in offender conduct and responsibility, and even staff morale…as we know, having great loving dogs around is always good for the soul. Puppies for Parole has even put special focus on hearing impaired dogs who are extra difficult to place for adoption, teaching them sign language, and then delivering them to programs and schools for deaf children.