Taking care of dogs can help rehabilitate an inmate. That’s one of the theories behind the creation of the dog shelter at the Jamesville Correctional Facility.
Stephanie Heath-Higgins, president of the Cuse Pit Crew, says pairing an inmate with a dog can have a lasting impact.
"Dogs are incredibly emotional and compassionate animals. And they connect with people. And that’s what these inmates need. They need a connection. They need to feel self-worth, and they need to feel something again, that’s going to give that motivation to leave and transfer that feeling into the community,” said Heath-Higgins.
The facility also serves as a way to reduce the number of dogs that are euthanized in Onondaga County. It will house approximately 20 dogs that are waiting for homes, but would otherwise be euthanized in a regular shelter.
“Because of the overpopulation of homeless animals, there are a lot of dogs euthanized -- healthy adoptable dogs that are euthanized. That’s why it’s important we’re doing certain things to prevent more dogs from ending up at a shelter,” said Heath-Higgins.
Inmates at the jail will do 75 percent of the work of maintaining the shelter and taking care of animals. Along with the inmates, there will be community volunteers who will help, including veterinarians, according to Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.
"This is a community wide effort, and the community very much wanted this facility here. Because they had the doctors and they have the volunteers, they needed a place for the dogs to call home until they could find adoptive homes for them,” said Mahoney.
The shelter will cost $350,000 to build. The county will pay for $250,000, and an independent pubic authority will pay for the rest. Ground was broken on the shelter on the shelter earlier this month.
