In 2015 in Indiana, Animal Protection League began a wonderful program in Pendleton Correctional Facility named F.O.R.W.A.R.D.
The idea behind the initiative is to take cats from a shelter and place them in the correctional facility so that inmates could take care of them. This program quickly turned out to be beneficial for both cats and inmates.
Several cats that end up at the shelter have a long history of abuse and mistreatment, leaving them unable to socialize with humans properly.
The felines lack trust in people and tend to have a lower chance of being adopted. What they need is patience and care before they can find a forever home and the program provides it to them.
While the felines are being taken care of by inmates who feed them, clean after them and groom them, the animals become friendlier and more trusting towards humans.
But cats aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. Prisoners get a wonderful opportunity to learn how to care for and take responsibility for a living creature.
Similar animal programs are widespread across prisons in the U.S. One is established in Monroe Correctional Complex-Special Offender Unit by the organization Purrfect Pals.
This program has proved itself really successful.
“The M.C.K.C. Program has reduced offender idleness, taught offenders about responsibility, and increased their self-esteem. Since the program’s inception, offenders have been motivated to enroll in school, obtain jobs, obey unit rules and improve their hygiene so that they may become M.C.K.C. participants. The presence of animals on E Unit has added a new calmness to E Unit’s therapeutic milieu and strengthened its community spirit,” they write on their website.
Nevertheless, one particular animal in prisons program angered people. After the release of Death Row 2018 that revolves around the prisoners of Indiana State Prison, people in social media said that those convicted for heinous crimes should not be allowed to keep cats in their cells. Many said that inmates could not be trusted with the pets.
More info: Facebook | purrfectpals.org
COMMENTS