Puppies with Manners,
thanks to some local inmates
Paws on Parole is a partnership program between the Florida Department of Corrections’ Gainesville Correctional Institution Work Camp and Alachua County Animal Services. The program is designed to increase adoptability of selected dogs at the Alachua County Animal Shelter. During the eight-week training period, professional dog trainers volunteer their time to teach inmates how to train dogs in socialization techniques and basic obedience. The inmates learn to train the dogs to the standards of the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizens Program. For more information about the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification and a copy of the brochure, click www.akc.org/pdfs/cgc/GK9GC1.pdf
The AKC Canine Good Citizen Program is designed to recognize dogs that have good manners at home and in the community. At the end of their training, the dogs take a test consisting of 10 skills needed by well-mannered dogs such as: accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking through a crowd, etc. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC Test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. The families adopting these dogs will have the benefit of having what the AKC considers a good social companion dog. Paws on Parole also include an
Aftercare Network; this is a group that will work with adopting families and their dogs to help integrate the training the dogs received. The adopting families also have the opportunity to take the Canine Good Citizen Course to better understand their new family pet.
After the eight-week training period and successful completion of the Good Citizen Program, all dogs are eligible for adoption. Each dog has received all of their shots, is receiving heartworm prevention, is micro chipped, crate trained and has been spayed or neutered. Adoption costs are only $45!
For more information about Paws on Parole adoption and the Aftercare Network contact Hilary Hynes, Public Education Program Coordinator, Alachua County Animal Services at (352)264-6881 or click the Paws on Parole link at www.alachuapets.com
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