Prison Kitties.

[smbolisnch]

I was looking through some online photographs from National Geographic and found this.



The caption reads:
Where Lorton, Virginia
When 1996
Photographer Karen Kuehn

Aided by a local vet, inmates at the prison in Lorton, Virginia, adopt stray cats. The inmates learn to offer care and to value simple affection.

[flvegan]

1. I think that it was Animal Planet

that did a show on one of the programs where non-violent prison inmates took in a dog, trained him her, then adopted the animal out. The dog stayed in the cell and everything with them.

Not only did the inmates learn some compassion, but they also picked up a trade if they were good at it. AND countless shelter animals, otherwise unadoptable, got new homes. That's hitting the trifecta (pardon the reference).

[smbolisnch]

2. I thought that picture was so moving.

I saw that show on TV. It was about a year or so ago, though. I distinctly remember one young inmate doing something to lose privileges, and they pulled him from the program. When they took "his" dog from him, he was devastated. Very sad.

[Dastard Stepchild]

3. Oh.. that's wonderful...

What a wonderful way for the two to experience warmth and affection.

[shockra]

4. That's a program that's sorely needed.

Most people in prison were victims of child abuse. Learning to give and receive love would mean the world. And of course, help society.

http://www.safechild.org/abuse.htm

*78% of our prison population were abused as children (Groth)

[AFSCME girl]

5. Hi smbolisnch,

Thank you for posting this ~ I just love the picture, I'm gonna make it my new wallpaper! :hi:

I think this is a great program to help the prisoners!

AFSCME girl

[CrispyQ]

6. A great solution to help both creatures in need!

Great photo! Thanks for sharing.

[livetohike]

7. Thanks for posting this

More good animal/people stories :-).

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. I love the idea. They do it with dogs here.

They have the inmates train the dogs and then they adopt them out. I can't say how much I love the idea. When I was going through the lowest most horrible part of my life, where I only dreamed of suicide, my dog was my best friend. She was from an abusive situation and so she and I were both in the healing process together.

RIP my Taylor!

[Rhiannon12866]

9. That is a beautiful photograph. Thanks for posting it.:-)

I also saw a story about another prison program involving animals on some news show. In this particular one, pretty hardened inmates were taught and given the responsibility for training service dogs, like "seeing eye dogs." It was a very moving piece, as well, since these guys became extremely dedicated to their pups and it became a real raison d'etre for them that their dogs do well in this.:-)

Wish I had a link, as well, but I watch so much news that I can't remember which show it was. Sorry.:shrug:

[flvegan]

10. Seriously...just look at that picture for a minute.

Here we have a convicted criminal. Look at how he holds that cat. The fur cascades over his hands and fingers. He's holding on tight. Look at those whiskers. Long, flowing...that cat hasn't seen abuse since getting here.

Look at the guy in the background. He's not looking out for a shiv from another inmate. He's not watching out for the man...he's watching out for his cat.

Nah...I'll take these guys on my team, I think. Anyday, anytime...I'll take these guys.

[shockra]

11. Wow.

You could write kitty porn. }(

[smbolisnch]

14. You are such a perv.......

:P:spank:

[shockra]

16. Maybe.

But I'm not the one who likes to spank people. :P

[smbolisnch]

19. hehehe

:spank:

[smbolisnch]

13. Very well said.

That is why this picture was so touching to me. It is so sweet. I just love it.

[shockra]

18. If I were a kitty I'd like reading it.

I'm just sayin'.

[Robeson]

12. Awesome. Absolutely awesome....

...that is so good in so many ways, for the cats, and the inmates. The lack of rehabilitation of inmates in this country is an unspoken crime. Perhaps this program is one way to help that process along.

[livinginphotographs]

17. Well said.

We should not be filing people away, but actively trying to rehabilitate them.

Animals are remarkably forgiving, caring creatures. That's the main reason I like them more than people. Maybe this is the perfect way to teach an inmate the ability to care about something other than him or herself.

[Lorien]

15. My father is a psychologist at a state prison, and they have a similar

program.They also groom cats and dogs for a local shelter to get them ready for adoption, and work with a wildlife rehab group bottle feeding orphaned wildlife. The programs are great for both the prisoners and the animals.