Rescue dogs paired with inmates seeking redemption
Behind locked gates and barbed wire, joy can be hard to find inside the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill.
Unless you visit the “J Block.”
There, you’ll find a different type of inmate. It’s home to several rescue dogs thanks to a program called HOPE, which stands for Hounds of Prison Education. Their motto is “Rescue, redemption, love and hope at both ends of the leash.”
Neglected, abused and stray animals are brought to the prison for a special form of rehabilitation; not unlike the men they are paired with.
“They’re a lot like us,” said a prisoner who spoke to abc27. “They’ve had issues in their life, so we retrain them. We give them a second chance and it’s our opportunity to bring love and joy into a family.”
The inmate, who abc27 was not allowed to identify, has trained 13 HOPE dogs over the years. He’s currently partnered with Sonja, who relies on him 24 hours a day and lives with him inside his cell.
“The hardest part of the program is letting the dog go once it’s time for them to be adopted, because this program means a lot to us,” he said. “It does a lot for us…our own mental health and our own well-being.”
The Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance began the HOPE program in 2005. With shelters overflowing and foster homes in short supply, they found the perfect match in these men — who have nothing but time.
“It’s not a punishment (for the dogs),” said Lynzee Cranford, HOPE program director. “It’s best case scenario for a lot of these dogs because many of them have been with their rescues for years with zero interest. And then they come into our program, they get that training and they leave here with a forever home.”
To date, the program has helped more than 400 dogs find those forever homes. And it’s helped countless inmates by giving them purpose over punishment.
“The parallels are really amazing,” Cranford said. “Because I feel like a lot of these guys, they see themselves in these dogs. And they, themselves, have worked for redemption, so they’re helping the dogs get their second chance at life as well.”
SCI Camp Hill Deputy Superintendent Randy Evans believes in the program so much, he’s made two HOPE dogs part of his family.
“The two dogs we’ve adopted from the HOPE program…they’re trained and they’re well-behaved,” Evans said. “But it takes patience. They’re not perfect.”
His most recent adoption, Gracie, was trained by the same inmate who is now working for Sonja’s happy ending.
“It doesn’t judge you,” the inmate said. “The dog just loves you for who you are and how you are.”
Not feeling judged is unusual for him. He’s serving a life sentence for first degree murder.
“We can never make up for the hurt and pain we caused people in the community,” he said. “But this is a way to give back. And it helps the dogs to get a loving home.”
He looks at this program as part of his road to redemption.
“We can never make up for what we did in the past, but we can try to do better in the future,” he said.
To qualify for the HOPE program, inmates must undergo an intense screening process. Men who are convicted of sex crimes or animal abuse are not eligible.
To see the list of adoptable dogs currently in the HOPE program, click here.
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