At last, some good news out of a prison! (Kitteh alert!)

[Archae]

Make sure you watch the video, if you can, the cats are just adorable.

Shelter cats find freedom in prison program

PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) – A new program at the Pendleton Correctional Facility is giving shelter cats a new home, while teaching offenders responsibility.

The program is officially called FORWARD, which stands for Felines and Offenders Rehabilitation with Affection, Reformation and Dedication.

It started in late March at the facility, and officials say it’s a win-win for everyone.

A dozen cats live in a revamped office space within prison walls. The animals are cared for, groomed, and the office is cleaned by several carefully-cleared offenders. The cats come from the Animal Protection League in Anderson.

http://wbay.com/2015/04/10/shelter-cats-find-freedom-in-prison-program/

[840high]

1. Excellent idea.

[NJCher]

2. sounds like a wonderful program

I hope it is duplicated across the country.

Yes, the video is definitely worth watching. The cats have a wonderful place to live--very clean, filled with all cat goodies, warm little tents, etc.



Cher

[BrotherIvan]

3. That is how pets bring so much to life

I talked in another thread about a program at a high school where I taught. It was a school for those who had been kicked out or bombed out of regular high school and this was their last chance. A group were on parole for gang-related crimes, some of them violent. These were hard-core bangers, headed for life in the system. They were paired with shelter animals or alternately disabled friends to be buddies with and to care for. You could see their wall of defensiveness and hatred literally melt. The way they cared for their friends was so tender and beautiful it brought tears to your eyes. And one kid said to me that learning how to love someone or a pet made him see that he could and that maybe he wasn't such a bad person after all. And that his friend could love him back was a shock. The parole officer said it was most successful program for halting reoffending they had.

These kinds of programs are so worthwhile. Showing people their humanity and another view of life is something pets do best.