Canine CellMates is a program that we believe will have a large ripple effect on our community. For the dogs that are pulled from Fulton County Animal Control, they will be socialized, trained and adopted into loving homes, when they were facing almost certain euthanasia at the shelter. For the inmate handlers, they are given the opportunity to exhibit responsibility and accountability with measurable goals to attain. They have the opportunity to experience positive physical contact and unconditional love. They learn skills that may enable them to more successfully re-enter the workplace, and a confidence to do so based on the successes they have experienced in this program. They have the opportunity to interact with people that are outside their normal circle of influence, and learn and grow socially. Through these people, both volunteers and speakers, they are able to expand their dreams to include possibilities they had not conceived of before. This program allows these men to grow into better people— less likely to re-offend, and more likely to become better citizens of our community, better children to their parents, and better parents to their children. Our involvement with the handlers doesn't stop when they get released. If they have given us 100% when they are in the program, we then assist them in their search for jobs and housing, help with furnishings, food and transportation, and continue to support them while they strive to become the men we know they can be.
