Loading ...Inmates Help Strays
Got this in an email and wanted to share. What are your thoughts on this?
—————————————————————————————
You all remember Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona, who painted the jail cells pink and made the inmates wear pink prison garb? Well SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN!
Oh, there’s MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe!
Maricopa County was spending approximately $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay.
The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners. They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who’d like to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.
The best part? His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million. Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost us $78.
The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day. Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals.
I have long wondered when the rest of the country would take a look at the way he runs the jail system, and copy some of his ideas. He has a huge farm, donated to the county years ago, where inmates can work, and they grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food, doing all the work and harvesting by hand.
—————————————————————————————–
What do you think of this idea and this process?
Way to go Sheriff Joe, what an awesome idea for the animals and the inmates – I love this article and this guy! We definitely need more no-nonsense guys like him! I wonder if he would be interested in running for President in 4 years ……
I think this is a great idea. The animals get attention, companionship and get taken care of. Human interaction for them while in shelters is so important. I really like this guy’s way of running the shelter. More cities should follow suit.
GREAT idea! I have heard about this guy and his radical ways but this is definitely an idea that more shelters should take heed on. What a greeat way for the shelter animals to get more human interation, attention and care.
I think it is a good idea, but I hope they keep track of the inmates and make sure they are all pet friendly.
Paws Up to Sheriff Joe! Being a pound pup mydelf I think is is a great idea. Most pounds are very cold and unfruendly places. With the inmates taking care of the pups it lets them show their soft side and the pups get to see all humans aren’t bad. I sure hope other places in the country do the same.
Rottie Kissies
Syndeli
that’s right, he’s right also a right winger just so you know how wrongly you stereotype us i’m a vegan and animal defender and activist and rescuer for 15 years and a republican, always hear lies about us, get informed read modern history Reps fought to liberate the slaves Dems fought to KEEP them slaves! Dems in the South were the party for segregation, just one detail the reps even started the Environmental protection Agency! and Welfare which is now abused but then it helped the needy also reps started Affirmative Action..get informed