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Columbia-Greene Humane Society / SPCA has joined with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue to launch a “New Leash on Life” program in which selected inmates teach homeless dogs basic obedience and socialization skills.
“What we thought this program could do was give these dogs who are homeless a chance to become more adoptable and also allow inmates a chance to give back something positive to the community.” said Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. “It’s definitely done a world of good for everyone’s temperament. It’s actually eased tensions through the entire facility, so it’s doing exactly what we expected.”
The “New Leash on Life” Cell Dog Program is offered through the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division by Sheriff David W. Harrison Jr. and Captain John Davi. The program is held in the Columbia County Jail, where selected inmates are taught basic dog obedience skills by Charlene Marchand, Professional Dog Trainer and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA (CGHS/SPCA). In turn, the inmates teach basic dog obedience to homeless dogs, making them more adoptable, in hopes of increasing their chances of obtaining a permanent home. The dogs are supplied by CGHS/SPCA and Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue. The dogs live in a jail cell with the inmates during the six-week training program, which offers the dogs around-the-clock care and crucial training for when they are adopted.
Graduates of the New Leash on Life Program are available for adoption upon completion of training for an adoption fee of $150 which will include:
S
pay/Neuter
Rabies Vaccination
Distemper Combo Vaccination
Kennel Cough Vaccine
De-worming
Heartworm/Lyme/Ehrlicosis/A.P. Test
ID tag
Collar and Leash
24 PetWatch Microchip and registration (microchip is NOT included with Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue canines)
Free bag of dog food to ease the transition to your brand at home
One private Obedience Training session with Charlene Marchand, trainer for the “New Leash on Life” program
Meet Our Current Class
Paige, a 2 year old spayed female Red Tick Coonhound, is the most recent canine trainee enrolled with the “New Leash on Life” Cell Dog Program. Paige likes other dogs, has lived with kids but is not too good with cats. She needs a home experienced with handling hounds and high tolerance for “vocal exuberance”. If interested in adopting Paige upon completion of the New Leash on Life training program, call CGHS/SPCA at (518) 828-6044 or email us at info@cghs.org.
