A new program at the Marion County Correctional Institution is helping inmates and shelter dogs.
The Florida Inmates and Dog Obedience Project (FIDO Project) launched earlier this month and pairs shelter dogs with inmates who will train their canine companions in basic obedience and socialization under the supervision of a certified dog trainer.
The goal of the FIDO Project is to teach inmates life skills and marketable experience, while helping dogs earn their American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen certificates, the gold standard for dog behavior.
“The FIDO Project will enrich the lives of all participants, both human and canine,” said Animal Center Manager Wendy Hillyard, who is spearheading the project for the shelter. “Our shelter dogs will learn so much from the inmates training them, and we hope the skills the inmates refine by conducting the training will benefit them later in life, too. We are honored to work with MCI on this new endeavor.”
Four Marion County Animal Services shelter dogs, Chewy, Luke, Princess and Trooper, will live with select inmates until January 2016.
The dogs will then be available for adoption at Marion County Animal Services for a $50 adoption fee that includes the spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, microchip and county license.
For more information on a adopting a FIDO Project graduate or more in the program go to: www.MarionCountyFL.org/animal