K-9 Corrections
Pope Memorial Humane Society was the first animal shelter in the state to gain approval for a prison program in 2006. Our K-9 Corrections training program started in collaboration with the Bolduc Correctional Facility but moved to the Maine State Prison in 2013. The program places shelter dogs within the prison facility to be trained by inmate handlers for approximately 6-12 weeks. The dogs and prisoners eat, sleep, learn together, and solely utilize positive training methods.
The K-9 Corrections program benefits not only the dogs but also the inmates, the prison, and our community:
- The dogs acquire basic obedience and socialization skills and trust in people
- The inmates learn compassion, responsibility, and patience, as well as the benefits of using positive means to work with others.
- Families get to adopt well-trained, socialized, and obedient dogs that need homes forever.
Nearly one hundred dogs have successfully graduated from the program and been adopted into loving homes.
K-9 Corrections runs on donations. If you’d like to help support it, please visit our GIVE NOW page to see how to direct your donation to this program.