Programs
Our ability to rescue dogs would not be possible without the help of our in-home fosters and our prison training program. Having the tools and resources to adopt out dogs who are well socialized, house trained, and who understand basic commands increases the success of our adoptions significantly.
PRO Foster Program
Our in-home Foster Program relies heavily on the willingness of volunteers to open their homes and hearts to our dogs in need. We provide support, supplies, and cover all expenses for our foster parents. In return, we ask that they provide a warm bed (dog bed or human bed!), a routine, and copious amounts of TLC!
Some of our dogs go directly from shelters or puppy mills into foster homes, while others go to our prison program prior to a foster home. We work with our fosters to determine the best fit for their household and will always take their preferences into consideration when placing a dog with them. Additionally, our fosters get priority if they choose to adopt their foster dog.
Interested in learning more about fostering? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions link below.
If you are interested in fostering for our rescue, please visit the Ways to Help page and submit a Volunteer Application.
PRO Prison Training Program: The Pets Uniting People Program (PUPP)
Our Pets Uniting People Program (PUPP), at the London Correctional Institution, is a canine-inmate dog training program that provides an invaluable resource to our rescue, while also providing the inmates an opportunity to be certified as Journeyman Animal Trainers upon completion of the 2-year Animal Trainer Apprenticeship.
The inmates in our program help to train our dogs in basic obedience, crate training, and house training. Each of our handlers must attend a daily class with his dog, to demonstrate progress is being made with core obedience commands and any medical or behavioral issues the dogs are working through. The needs of each dog vary greatly. We rescue dogs from puppy mills, who generally just need socialization and to learn how to be companion dogs; whereas, a lot of the shelter dogs and owner surrenders usually need work on behavioral issues or household manners. Each handler is also responsible for writing a weekly biography, to report his dog’s progress to the rescue.
A volunteer from our rescue visits the dogs weekly, to perform wellness checks, answer questions, and discuss any training or medical concerns with the handlers. We also provide access to reading materials and training videos, as well as coordinate visits with a professional trainer several times throughout the year to provide guidance to our handlers.
Interested in learning more about our program? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions link below.
PUPP Dog Training Class Video
A sneak peek into a dog training class from the Pets Uniting People Program (PUPP) at London Correctional Institution in London, Ohio.
NOTE: All of the dogs in this video have been adopted. These are not current program dogs.