Paws on Parole - About Us

About Us:
Paws on Parole is a partnership program between Alachua County Animal Services and the Florida Department of Corrections Gainesville Work Camp. The program’s main goal is to increase the adoption and retention rates of selected dogs at the Alachua County Animal Shelter. In addition, the program provides experience and education in dog care for inmates. The Paws on Parole program has also had a strong positive effect on ACAS’s relations with the local community, through the involvement of local businesses in supporting the program and through the many outreach and outing activities related to the program.

"Grace" Academy 3

The dogs are selected by shelter personnel and volunteer trainers, who test the dogs around other dogs, cats, and people. Selected dogs are matched with inmates at the Work Camp. Under the supervision of volunteer professional trainers the dogs and their handlers spend eight weeks learning basic obedience. Equally important, the dogs are socialized around a variety of people and other dogs during this period.

Inmates learn about daily dog care (including feeding, grooming, and routine health care) as well as positive training techniques. They learn to train the dogs to the standards of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizens (CGC) program. The CGC tests dogs on ten items measuring temperament and obedience. The program recognizes dogs who have “good manners at home and in the community,” as the AKC website explains (http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm).

Paws on Parole dogs are eligible for adoption after the eight-week training period and completion of the CGC test, although potential adopters can submit applications before the training period ends. ACAS personnel and the Paws on Parole trainers carefully screen all adoption applications to ensure the right match between dog and person. As the program has become well known in the community, all the Paws on Parole dogs have had accepted adoption applications before finishing the eight week training period. The dogs go home with their new families the same day they pass their CGC test and graduate from the program.

Like all dogs adopted from ACAS, the Paws on Parole graduates are fully vaccinated, micro chipped, spayed or neutered, and receive monthly heartworm prevention.

Paws on Parole also includes an Aftercare Network, a group of volunteers willing to work with adopting families and their dogs to help integrate and keep the dog in the new home. The adopting families are encouraged to continue the dogs training and to take the CGC test with their dog in order to receive an official CGC Certificate from the American Kennel Club.

"Frankie"
Academy Two