Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Animal Services' "Paws on Parole" graduation is July 10, 2009. This event will take place at the Gainesville Work Camp (1000 NE 55 Blvd, Gainesville). Sheriff Sadie Darnell is the keynote speaker, and will present the diplomas to the inmate/handlers. The Canine good Citizen testing begins at 9 a.m. The graduation ceremony will start at 10 a.m. After the graduation, the dogs will move to the Animal Services' Shelter (3400 NE 53rd Ave, Gainesville) and prepare to go to their new homes.

Paws on Parole is a program that teaches and allows prison inmates to train adoptable dogs. The inmates learn the methods and train the dogs in the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizens Course. At the end of the training course, the dogs are available for adoption.

The Canine Good Citizen training course includes 8 weeks of training, consisting of 2 sessions per week and 2 hours each training session. At the end of the training, the dogs will take a 10-part test. Dogs passing the test will get a certificate from the American Kennel Club. 

The families adopting these dogs will have the benefit of having what the American Kennel Club considers a "good social companion dog". The adopting families will take the Canine Good Citizen Course, in order to better understand their new family pet.

Paws on Parole includes an After Care Network. The After Care Network is a group that will work with families and their dogs to help with the training integration.

For prison security reasons, the graduation is a media only event. If you are media and wish to attend the event, contact Grettel Plessenger at 850-488-0420. Approval is needed before the July 10^th event.

For more information about Paws on Parole, click here or call Hilary Hynes (Public Education Program Coordinator, Alachua County Animal Services) at 352-264-6881.

For more information about the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification, click here.