In 2014 I was recruited to help implement and develop a program for Osceola County called TREATS (Training and Rescuing Eagerly Adoptable and Talented Shelterdogs) for prisoners who lived in a converted motel “The Transition House”. Most of the men had jobs and were on their final stage to freedom.
The purpose of the program was to teach prisoners how to train shelter dogs which were brought from the County Shelter to live with the men for periods of time. The goal was to give the men career possibilities and get the dogs trained and adopted. My participation included raising funds to create an agility training area by installing fencing for which I created “Fund a Foot of Fence” and buying sod, purchasing dog beds, treats and other dog necessities, advertising the dogs to get them adopted, bringing in vocational speakers and providing prisoner get-togethers, food and activities for interpersonal relations. Sadly in 2018 the Florida Governor slashed the prison budget eliminating the program, and all 155 men at the Transition House were taken back to prison. At that time 48 men (75% of participants) had successfully completed the TREATS program, and 88 dogs had been adopted. Several of the men still communicate with me and they have established successful and meaningful lives and families.