CoreCivic is dedicated to helping individuals in our care find opportunities to develop life and career skills to better prepare themselves for success upon release. One of those opportunities is the new Busy Paws Doggy Daycare program offered to residents at CoreCivic’s Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut, Ohio.

Busy Paws pairs carefully selected residents with staff dogs for the day. Residents care for the dogs by exercising, socializing, feeding and spending time with them. Through those interactions, residents also learn life skills such as patience, accountability and consistency. But those in the program say it gives them much more than that.

“The doggy daycare program boosts the morale of the institution,” one participant said. “It gives you a chance to show your humanity, to show you can be trusted and you have discipline. It also gives you something to look forward to, picking up your animal every day.”

To be accepted into Busy Paws, residents must go through an interview process, just as they would for any job outside incarceration. Once accepted, they remain voluntarily in the program for two years. Each participant is responsible for managing their own schedule and picking up their assigned dog each day.

“This gives people the opportunity to feel normal,” one participant said.

In addition to having a job, participants say they find great joy in spending time with dogs every day. Some say Busy Paws has had a major impact on their overall well-being.

“Some residents may have mental health issues; some may not have a family. The beautiful thing about this program is that it caters to all those needs,” one participant said.

Program participants say one of the most meaningful parts of being accepted is knowing staff trust them to care for their pets.

“For these correctional officers to trust us with their animals, it shows the community maybe we can be trusted again. It shows our families we can be trusted,” one participant said. “It also shows a mutual respect between us and staff. It brings peace and normalcy on both sides.”

“This program changes the stigma of how we’re perceived,” another participant said. “We are capable of being caring, compassionate and nurturing. It gives people a second look at who we are. It’s good for everybody involved, and I’m very happy to be part of it.”

Program facilitator and unit manager James Warsing said there are five dogs signed up for Busy Paws Doggy Daycare. He expects the program to grow gradually as teams continue to observe and assess its success.