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| Prison Program Changes Lives of Inmates |
| By chicagotribune.com |
| Published: 07/13/2009 |
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Prison program changes lives of inmates, animals By Brandi Watters PENDLETON, Ind. - Robin Schlusser still has four years left on his 15-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter, but if all goes as planned, the 46-year-old Muncie man will spend his time caring for cats while incarcerated. Schlusser is one of six inmates taking part in the Pendleton Correctional Industrial Facility's new program that partners well-behaved offenders with homeless cats in an attempt to enrich the lives of both groups. Schlusser and his fellow offenders work in eight-hour shifts caring for 59 cats who entered the facility on June 22. Maleah Stringer, director of Animal Care and Control in Anderson, is in charge of the prison pet program and said all 59 cats were up for adoption. It's up to Schlusser and other inmates to care for the animals and socialize with them so that the animals are ready to be taken into permanent homes. On the other end of the correctional facility, 16 dogs live alongside their incarcerated handlers as part of the FIDO program. Like the cat program, FIDO brings homeless dogs into the facility to be trained and socialized by inmates until adopted. FIDO stands for Friendship + Dogs + Inmates Opportunity. The program began in September and has been a big success, according to Tim Horan of the correctional facility. The behavior of inmates has changed, and it's given dogs a second chance at life. The unit, which contains the 16 dogs, is also home to "Big-headed Bob," the unit's mascot. The American bulldog mix was about to be euthanized when he was selected to come to the prison, Horan said. Now he's the pet of the dozens of inmates in the unit, and one inmate painted a portrait of the dog that now hangs in a hallway at the facility. Prison officials are hoping the success of the FIDO program will be mirrored in its latest efforts with homeless cats. Schlusser keeps a chalkboard catalog of each cat and has already learned all of the 59 names of the felines. "Every one of them has a number and a name, just like we've got," he said. Schlusser is covered in tattoos and has spent much of his adult life behind bars, but in the cat rooms, he transforms into a caregiver, and boasts that other inmates are jealous of his job. "It's fun. It's more freedom ... and I get to play." So far, two cats in the program have been adopted by staff at the correctional industrial facility. CIF Superintendent Tom Hanlon said he approved the cat program based on the success of the FIDO program. "It's popular with the inmates," Hanlon said. "It's popular with the staff. Everyone has invested themselves in it mightily." This is not the first time cats have been allowed into prisons. Read More. |
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