Prison Pet Partnership

The Prison Pet Partnership Program gives inmate trainers the opportunity to learn valuable pet industry-related vocational skills to use in finding employment when they resume their lives outside of prison. They are able to work toward Pet Care Technician certification, levels one and two, through the American Boarding Kennels Association. They are also able to obtain Companion Animal Hygienist certification under the auspices of the World Wide Pet Supply Association.

Description:
This was a cooperative effort among Washington State University, Tacoma Community College and the Washington State Department of Corrections, trainers and volunteers. This beneficial program helps inmates at the Washington State Corrections Center for Women learn how to train, groom and board dogs within the prison walls. The program was later incorporated in 1991 as a separate not for profit organization. Animals are placed regionally in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. More than 500 dogs have been placed with handicapped and disabled individuals and families since the inception of the program.

History:
The Prison Pet Partnership Program is a model for the nation in the area of the rehabilitation of female offenders within the criminal justice system in Washington State. It began in 1981 with an idea by Sister Pauline Quinn, where inmates would reach out to help others by training special dogs that would assist a disabled person.

Contact people:

Mollyrose Sommer, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Elizabeth Rivard, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (253) 858-4674

Address:

9601 Bujacich Road NW Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.prisonpetpartnership.org

Last updated on December 29, 2008