From cells to forever homes: Prison dog program returns with help from OSU vet school
In an environment where hope often feels lost, the Guardian Angels Dog Program shines a light on second chances.
The program operates inside a 2,982-square-foot animal training facility at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. Originally launched in 2018, it was paused last year due to staffing changes at the facility.
After a brief hiatus, the program has been reinstated with the generous support of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“I’m excited, ladies,” Warden Scott Tinsley said. “This will be a big deal, and you get to be at the forefront.”
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections also partners with local animal rescue groups to identify dogs struggling to find a forever home.
Incarcerated women in the program find solace and purpose through the companionship of abandoned and unwanted animals.
The dogs spend up to three months in the program before becoming available for adoption.
“It’s nice to be back,” one inmate trainer said. “Something to love on.”
“It’s definitely good to be back,” another inmate trainer added. “We are excited.”
“We’ve embraced the whole program, and we love it,” Administrative Programs Officer Misty McFarland said. “The ladies are thrilled this program has returned. We look forward to training these animals and finding them forever homes.”
Through the partnership of OSU’s veterinary school, the dogs receive essential care, including behavioral assessments and nutritional support.
“The students are here today to evaluate the dogs,” Dr. Leticia Fanucchi of OSU said. “We will place them in our program for eight to 12 weeks. Once they are ready, they get adopted out.”
“I didn’t know we were doing this when I started this rotation,” OSU student Mary Gaston said. “But I’m really glad to be a part of it.”
“According to my parents, I couldn’t pronounce ‘veterinarian,’” OSU student Drew Darty joked. “I wanted to be a doggie doctor or a doggie walker. My mom convinced me a doctor makes more money.”
The Guardian Angels program not only rehabilitates dogs but also gives incarcerated women the opportunity to heal. Each wag of a tail is a testament to the power of transforming lives.
