Through a partnership with the Virginia Department of Corrections, FETCH A Cure’s Pixie’s Pen Pals pairs inmates at Virginia correctional centers with homeless dogs from Virginia animal shelters. With the guidance and instruction from two professional dog trainers, the inmate handlers work to socialize and train the rescue dogs to prepare the dogs for adoption. The Pen Pals program not only lowers the rate of euthanasia in Virginia’s city animal shelters, but also provides life skills to inmates. We transfer in an average of 60 dogs from Southside SPCA and Richmond Animal Care and Control who are trained and placed into loving homes. The Pen Pals program promotes inmate rehabilitation while increasing positive communication and interaction between correctional center staff and the rest of the inmate population. Inmate handlers learn viable job skills and some have gone on to become professional dog trainers following their release. By working cooperatively to help the animals, the inmates learn responsibility, patience, and emotional confidence. Every time a dog leaves the program to go to its new home, the inmate handler feels a sense of accomplishment and pride that they have given back to their community in a positive manner, leaving a smile on both ends of the leash. Our professional trainers, Kasey Herrera and Katie Locks, devote their time (and sometimes their own homes) to our Pen Pals program! The trainers visit the correctional centers weekly to work with each dog and inmate. The trainers and inmate handlers work collaboratively to think up creative solutions for training dogs in the more restrictive prison environment. With Kasey and Katie’s ongoing involvement in the Pen Pals dogs’ lives, we are also able to offer behavioral support after adoption. Our trainers often stay in touch with handlers who have been released and gone on to have careers in pet care and training. Pixie’s Pen Pals is a program of the former Save Our Shelters. FETCH was chosen to run this program after the Save Our Shelters organization dissolved in 2010. The program continues on with FETCH a Cure, in honor of Pixie Williams, former director of the Save Our Shelters Pen Pals program. Pixie lost her battle to cancer in 2009. She was a strong advocate for animal welfare – first as an SOS volunteer, later as a board member, and then as president. In the last year of her life, Pixie served as the Director of Save Our Shelter’s Pen Pals program. Not only did Pixie have a passion for animals, she was a strong advocate for spay and neuter, as well as for the adoption of abandoned dogs and cats. We are inspired by Pixie and are committed to improving the quality of life for all animals.
Our animals are housed and trained in correctional centers throughout Virginia. Please complete the Pen Pals Adoption Application as the first step in the process. Contact [email protected] or call the FETCH a Cure office at 804.793.8353 with any questions. Our Pen Pals Coordinator and trainers review the information contained in the adoption application to ensure that the dogs are placed in homes best suited for their personalities and any special requirements. A home visit is required in order to ensure that your future canine companion is in a home suited for his needs. The application and home visit makes it easier for us to learn more about you so that we can help find the perfect match for your home! Our goal in this process is to ensure happiness and a forever home for our dogs and your family. While we work on approving your application, we will submit your information to the correctional center at which your future dog is housed. An adoption visit at the correctional center is required and pivotal to your ability to help your dog to transition between rescue program and forever home. The correctional center visits are only allowed during business hours on weekdays–the Pen Pals Coordinator will help to plan the visit as far in advance as possible.
Richmond VA | 7.8 miles away
Atlantic Region Central Border Collie Rescue, Inc. (ARCBCR) is a small, local, nonprofit, all volunteer border collie rescue organization based out of Richmond, Virginia. We are made up of a passionate and dedicated handful border collie lovers who had the good fortune of meeting and befriending each other through past rescue work. Ou mission is to rescue and rehome border collies, border collie m
Richmond VA 23236 | 9.5 miles away
The Richmond Animal League (RAL) is the area’s oldest non-profit “no-kill” organization committed to reducing the homeless pet population in the Richmond area. Founded in 1979, RAL provides temporary housing, medical treatment, sterilization, and quality care to over 1,700 companion animals each year until they are adopted into permanent and loving homes.