I Stand With My Pack is proud to partner with the Paws For Life Prison Program, an inspiring program that saves lives on every level.
Shelter dogs are often misunderstood. They frequently present with challenging behaviors developed while in the shelter setting. Gaining the trust of, and training, these dogs can be difficult and intimidating for adopters. The Paws for Life Prison Program offers these dogs the second chance they all deserve.
Paws for Life is the first dog training and rehabilitation program implemented in men’s maximum-security prisons. These men, many serving life sentences, work to care for, train and socialize dogs from high-kill Los Angeles shelters with the help of professional dog trainers. In the program, dogs are taught basic obedience skills, leash walking, crate training, and most importantly, they learn to interact appropriately with humans and other dogs. These essential skills are what help shelter dogs get adopted! In addition to helping save the lives of countless shelter dogs in the Los Angeles area, the Paws for Life Program also rehabilitates and provides opportunities for its human participants. A number of graduates of the program have even become professional dog trainers once released from prison. Many of the men involved with Paws For Life have credited the program with giving them the opportunity to give back to society and allow their families a reason to be proud of them for the first time.
Two specific examples of I Stand With My Pack’s valued partnership with Paws for Life are our dogs Eden and Brave.
Eden is a beautiful 1-year-old Husky/Shepherd mix with a LOT of energy! When her puppy enthusiasm became too much for her owners to handle, she was surrendered to our rescue. We decided to enroll Eden in the Paws For Life program so she could learn to control her excited impulses and interact calmly with people and dogs. Using a variety of training techniques, Eden’s trainers have lovingly worked with her to teach the value of patience and stillness. She has acquired the skills she needs to be a well-mannered member of the family. All of this hard work has paid off in a big way for Eden as she has been adopted and will soon be joining her forever family!
Brave is a super cute 1-year-old Pitbull mix who also had more than his share of energy to spare! Brave was so excited on leash and around other people that he had a difficult time finding his perfect home. Entered into the Paws for Life Program six weeks ago, Brave has made huge improvements in his behavior and demeanor. Once he got the hang of controlling himself on leash and with people, Brave’s trainers learned that he was amazing with other dogs. In fact, they are now using him as the test dog in playgroups to assess the manners of new dogs coming into the program! Brave has come a long way in controlling his excited impulses, but according to his trainers he is still “the life of the party” and will bring lots of fun and joy to the people lucky enough to adopt him. Brave will be graduating from Paws for Life in the first week of January and is ready for his forever home.
These wonderful dogs are just two examples of the many dogs the Paws For Life Program has rehabilitated and helped find their happily-ever-after. We greatly appreciate the work these men do to save dogs in need, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with this amazing organization.
If you are ready to adopt, click here to learn more about our Adoption program.
