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North Carolina Department of Correction |
A New Leash on Life
“A
New Leash on Life” is a program that allows minimum and medium custody state
prisons to partner with local animal shelters, animal welfare agencies, and/or
private non-profit agencies to train dogs in preparation for their adoption.
In turn, the inmates are given a chance to serve the
community by training dogs to be well-behaved pets.
Selected dogs are placed with inmate trainers in a prison
setting for eight to twelve weeks.
The inmates teach basic obedience, house training,
and socialization through positive reinforcement and repetition.
Dogs are taught to walk on and off the leash and to
respond to basic commands.
Each
prison facility partners with a local partner or sponsor, a volunteer animal
trainer, and local merchants or civic organizations that can support the program
with needed supplies and services.
There are currently two apprenticeship programs offered to
inmates in the New Leash on Life program.
In these programs inmates have the opportunity to
receive certified training that will help them obtain a job upon their release
from prison.
To obtain apprentice certification through the Department
of Labor, an inmate must complete a veterinary assistant course offered from the
community college as well as 2000 hours of on the job training.
The first apprenticeship is a Dog Trainer
Apprenticeship that began in 2007 at Craven CI and has since expanded to include
Eastern CI.
The second is an Animal Care Provider Apprenticeship and
will begin in 2009 at Brown Creek CI and will allow inmates to complete the on
the job training at any of the New Leash on Life facilities.
As
of March 1, 2009, 735 dogs have completed the program.
683 have been adopted immediately following
completion of the program for a 93% rate of adoption.
The dogs not immediately adopted are returned to the
community partner for adoption at a later date.
“A New Leash on Life” operates at these facilities.
For more information on adoption of the dogs, please
contact the participating community partners.
A New Leash on Life Facilities and Community Partners
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Facility |
Community Partner |
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Albemarle Correctional Institution |
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Stanley County Humane Society |
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Bladen Correctional Center |
A Shelter Friend, Inc. |
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Brown Creek Correctional Institution |
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Carolina Pet Adoption & Welfare Society, Inc. (CPAWS) |
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Cabarrus Correctional Center |
Humane Society of Concord and
Greater Cabarrus County |
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Caledonia Correctional Institution |
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Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR) |
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Catawba Correctional Center |
Catawba County Animal Care and
Control |
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Craven Correctional Institution |
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Drake Parker/Top Dog Academy
Humane Society of
70 West Veterinary Hospital
Pals for Paws |
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Eastern Correctional Institution |
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Linda Monico/New Levels Dog Training
Greene County Health Department
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Foothills Correctional Institution
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Burke County Friends for Animals |
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Forsyth Correctional Center |
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Forsyth Humane Society |
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Gaston Correctional Center |
Gaston Animal Control
Gaston Humane Society
Piedmont Kennel Club |
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Guilford Correctional Center |
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SPCA of the Triad |
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Marion Correctional Institution |
McDowell County Animal Shelter |
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Mountain View Correctional Institution |
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Avery Humane Society |
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Nash Correctional Institution |
Southern Siberian Rescue
Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR) |
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North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women |
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The Humane Society of Davidson
County |
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Pender Correctional Institution |
Monty's Home |
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Rutherford Correctional Center |
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Rutherford County Animal Protection Alliance |
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Swannanoa
Correctional Center for Women |
Animal Haven of
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