Aug. 5, 2008 — The Pups on Parole program, a partnership between the California Correctional Center and the Lassen County Humane Society, saves endangered dogs, helps with inmate rehabilitation and provides an opportunity for the dogs to enjoy a happy life. The program celebrated its success at the CCC Fire Station on Monday, July 28.

According to Lt. Scott Porter, administrative assistant at CCC, 41 dogs with issues that made them undesirable for adoption have gone through the program and have found homes.

Porter said the dogs get one-on-one training from the inmates at the prison’s fire station and get attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although the dogs come to the prison with troubling issues, when the leave they are “up to speed, adoptable, trained and well-mannered pups.

All the dogs would have been euthanized had they not been selected to participate in the Pups on Parole program.

Kathy Prosper, CCC’s warden, presented a plaque featuring pictures of all 41 of the adopted animals to Mary Morphis, president of the Lassen Humane Society.

According to Porter, Prosper and Ron Barnes, CCC’s acting warden, both fully support the program that puts dogs and inmates together. When Prosper retires, Porter said Barnes has pledged to continue to support the program.

A new batch of six dogs arrived at the prison during Monday’s celebration. The dogs are matched with a primary trainer and a secondary trainer who work with the dogs to help them become adoptable. Other inmates also help with the dogs.

For more information on the Pups on Parole program, call the Lassen Humane Society at 257-4555.