Inmates at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe are helping lift the burden on Riverside County’s packed animal shelters by fostering impounded canines, training them in basic obedience and preparing them, ideally, for permanent placement with adopters, officials said Thursday.
“This program helps the inmates tremendously because they’re able to focus their energy, attention and time into helping dogs who might need extra support, or just need help coming out of their shells,” California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation Officer Randy Gregory said.
“I know firsthand the kind of transformations that can happen when we invest in emotional healing, and if the dogs can help the inmates and vice versa, then it’s a win all around. We’re excited to work together to get some dogs adopted and change the perception that people have toward shelter dogs.”
Gregory had arranged partnerships with nonprofit animal care organizations in the past to match inmates with abandoned or abused canines, and after learning about over-capacity conditions at Riverside County’s four animal shelters last fall, he contacted the Department of Animal Services to set up a long-term fostering program inside Ironwood, officials said.
“These dogs get to play, socialize and build connections with their caretakers, who are also teaching them new skills, so when it’s time for adoption, the dogs are better prepared to transition into their new environment,” Department of Animal Services spokeswoman Jaclyn Schart said.
Inmates are screened to ensure they’re suitable candidates for dog fostering, and those who qualify are then matched with impounded pets. Inmate foster guardians take them on walks, getting them acclimated to leashes, as well as provide other “focused attention” to help the canines get used to regular interaction and appropriate behavior, according to animal services.
“It’s empowering that people trust us with these dogs,” prisoner T. Jones said. “It’s helping the dog, but it’s helping us at the same time with a new responsibility. It’s teaching us patience, kindness and being in touch with our feelings.”
Jones has already worked with three canines that were formally adopted. A total of 31 dogs have been part of the prison program to date.
Shelter dogs are usually matched with prison foster guardians for two-week periods, after which they’re considered ready for adoption. The inmates’ families and correctional staff are generally offered first dibs on adoption opportunities, but if they aren’t able to take the dogs, the pets are made available to the public.
Currently, only a limited number of inmates are permitted to foster pets, but Ironwood Prison Warden Chris Pierce said the objective is to expand the program to 200 prisoners and up to 80 dogs at a time.
“We are looking forward to growing our partnership with Riverside County and providing them with, what I believe to be, the best dog program in the state,” Pierce said. “We are here to help the dogs, and it’s amazing to see the dogs creating a positive impact at Ironwood in such a short amount of time.”
Last May, the county Board of Supervisors approved a “no kill” policy, resolving that the county will make it an objective to preserve the lives of a minimum of 90% of all cats and dogs impounded at the county’s shelters.
The policy entails greater emphasis on free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics, enhanced “return-to-owner” programs that unite lost pets with their loved ones, adoption campaigns with full fee waivers, expedited “trap- neuter-return-to-field” cat programs that were inaugurated in March 2024 and pet fostering. The latter provides opportunities for Inland Empire residents to take a dog or cat home for set or open periods, without the obligation to adopt. Fostered pets receive free veterinary care from the county and can be returned to a shelter anytime.
The no-kill effort dovetails with a reformation initiated by the board after one organization alleged that the county had the highest pet “kill rate” in the nation.
Information about the Ironwood program and potential adoptions is available at www.rcdas.org/Ironwood.