Pathways To Hope

Cell Dogs harnesses the power of the human-animal bond and transforms lives by setting a new course for shelter dogs and incarcerated individuals. By providing second chances, we make a lasting difference in our communities.

The program at Orange County Probation, which involves the participation of male and female youth (ages 18-25), who have lengthy sentences is thriving. 2025 promises to be a year of growth as the OC Sheriff’s Department wants to start a new program in the Theo Lacy Facility in June. OC Probation is also keenly interested in starting a new program for a unit in their "Youth Leadership Academy which houses male offenders who have nearly satisfied their sentencing requirements and are participating in transitional programs which prepare them for "life on the outside." Cell Dogs is also pursuing opportunities in LA County Probation facilities. In addition, we are also working with community partners to facilitate programming in transitional housing units for in-custody adults.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there is a considerable unmet need for rehabilitation programs in correctional facilities due, in part, to low staffing for vocational programs. Research has shown education and workforce readiness are key to success and provide a path to leaving a formerly incarcerated life behind. In fact, a study by UC Irvine shows our programs’ participants are far less likely to reoffend than the general justice involved population.

Cell Dogs has been running its programs in correctional facilities since 2001 with a curriculum developed by our Executive Director/Founder. In 2007, we launched one of the nation's first dog training programs for incarcerated youth, and the first in California involving individuals younger than 18 years old. We celebrated 15 years of service at OC Probation in 2024.

Cell Dogs offers training programs year-round to incarcerated youth (and adults) in Orange County correctional facilities. We rescue at-risk or “un-adoptable” dogs from local shelters, and enroll them in our training programs in participating facilities with incarcerated individuals as program trainers. The canines live in housing units with the program participants during the training cycle, lowering stress levels for the entire unit and staff. For each training cycle, we make sure all dogs are lovingly adopted or promoted into our Advanced Training Program. Our Advanced Training Program trains rescued dogs to become service dogs for veterans and first responders in our community.

Our 14-week basic obedience training program is facilitated by experienced professionals, and consists of two parts: Concepts in Dog Training, 4 weeks, and Practical Dog Training, 10 weeks. Both parts offer participants soft skills (empathy, care, responsibility) and hard skills (animal behavior, dog training, and wellness) necessary for successful reentry. Our work rehabilitates juveniles and adults in correctional institutions through education, responsibility, therapeutic and psychological benefits, offering crucial life and marketable job skills.

Our curricula received endorsement as continuing education courses by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office in 2023. Upon completion of our program, our “program trainers” now receive a Certificate of Completion from Santiago Canyon College. This recognition enhances employment opportunities in the fields of dog training, grooming, doggie daycare and veterinary practice facilities upon their release. This distinction makes Cell Dogs the only organization of its kind in California.

By offering quality education and workforce development opportunities, our program has a direct bearing on reducing recidivism because individuals are provided with rewarding options that support and encourage positive outcomes outside of the justice system. In addition, reentry skills with college certified courses can set participants on a course towards higher education, which makes stable employment with a living wage more accessible.

50 % of our staff were formerly incarcerated and participated in programs like ours. They are serving as successful role models for the youth they work with, showing that careers in animal care and welfare can bring fulfillment and success.

To address the changes in the airline industry’s new regulations regarding the travel of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), Cell Dogs, Inc. added a new program in 2021. This new mandate created an opportunity for us to develop a customized evaluation and training program for individuals who truly need their ESA/pet dogs to accompany them in public.

We rescue dogs from local shelters and enroll them in basic obedience training programs. These classes take place in correctional facilities and actively involve inmate trainers. For each training cycle, we make sure all dogs are lovingly adopted or promoted into our advanced training program.

The main indicators of our success include permanent and loving homes for rescued and shelter dogs, reduced recidivism rates for our program participants at partnering institutions, and the advanced training and placement of service dogs with veterans, first responders, and members of the disabled community. Since its inception, Cell Dogs has successfully rescued, trained and placed over 500 dogs and over 31 service dogs into new homes. In addition, we have served over 3,600 justice involved individuals through over 126 training cycles.

Our impactful work rehabilitates juveniles/youth and adults in correctional institutions through education, responsibility, therapeutic and psychological benefits, and crucial life and job skills. By utilizing their time and cultivating their talents, our program participants are far less likely to reoffend. UC Irvine commenced a study in OC Probation in 2018 and determined that only 18% of our “program trainers” were rearrested within one year after being released; for non-program trainers it was 42% over the same 1-year period. The Sheriff’s Department (adult offenders) puts the recidivism rate for non-program participating male inmates at 57% and females at 39%, one year after being released. The recidivism rates for our program trainers for the same period was 29% for males and 18% for females. In California, the average cost for secure confinement of a young person is around $588 per day, or $214,620 per year. For adults, it is also a record-breaking number of $132,860 annually. By reducing recidivism rates, our programs save a significant amount of taxpayers’ money.

Cell Dogs is the only organization of its kind in California with programs endorsed as continuing education courses by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Receiving this recognition, we further empower program participants who often feel dismissed or unseen by society by giving them a second chance at leading productive and responsible lives, with job opportunities in the pet industry.

We continue working to expand our programs to new institutions, develop our advanced training program to train and place service dogs with those in need, and increase our community partnerships with local organizations supporting re-entry for justice involved individuals and rescue and shelter organizations.

We are very proud of our accomplishments and are honored to share our combined 100 years of training and shelter experience with members of our community!

Cell Dogs, Inc. is keenly aware of the considerable unmet need in local animal shelters and correctional facilities, and we are maximizing our abilities to serve more shelter/rescue dogs, incarcerated youth and adults and those in need of a service dog.

With the growth of the organization and the increasing need for state mandated "re-entry and transitional programs" for incarcerated individuals, the Cell Dogs Team is focused on securing sustainable funding to keep the organization moving forward. We’ve been very successful in securing consistent in-kind donations as well as individual donations to cover basic programming. Since 2007, Cell Dogs has been run by one full-time individual who has volunteered their services, and now we need operational funding to secure essential personnel to move the organization forward while responding to the growing needs of the community. We are a fiscally responsible organization operating with no waste or fluff. 90% of our income is dedicated to essential program expenses (veterinary care, trainer compensation, shelter fees, food, program supplies) which lives little room for growth or development.

Our programs have been running with great success for many years. Currently, we run and have full responsibility for programs with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Probation Department. We recently expanded our service dog training scope to assist military veterans and first responders living with post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities. Simultaneously, we have been developing a re-entry program for previous program trainers who have been released from prison and jail. Through apprenticeships with Cell Dogs, Inc., former youth and adult inmates will gain valuable and practical skills for future employment.

Many years ago, we made the decision not to set up a boarding kennel to house "dogs-in-training" which were waiting for the next training cycle or participating in our advanced training program for service work. Instead of a brick-and-mortar facility for training classes, we planned for our dogs-in-training to be kept at the facilities of our correctional partners. That strategy has enabled us to maintain very low overhead expenses.
We forecast that our expenses for 2025 will increase as our unpaid ED will hand over some of their responsibilities to the contracted operations team members. Additionally, we need to hire additional training instructors and an apprentice service dog trainer to ensure the success and growth of our organization. Forecast expenses for 2025 total $200K.

Our primary service area focuses on Southern California due to the customized process of training service dogs. We are based in Orange County.

Second chances can make all the difference in the world! Positives changes happen when people and dogs are partnered. Dogs who were deemed unlovable, un-trainable, or un-adoptable at local shelters are rehabilitated by at-risk youth and adult criminal offenders who made poor choices for a variety of reasons. These two populations are similar in that they both need a second chance to make positive changes in their lives. Cell Dogs, Inc. provides that opportunity by teaching program participants how to effectively communicate with each other through the power of positive reinforcement by using praise, encouragement and a rewards-based system.

These programs require full support from each institution’s management and staff. Focused commitment is also required from program participants. While our staff facilitates the weekly training programs and the adoption process of each dog, the dogs live in housing units with the program participants during the entire 14-week training cycle.

Our impact is far reaching in numerous ways. Dogs, some of whom had been rogues, are transformed into loving family pets. Reforming those dogs positively impacts the lives of the inmate trainers in addition to scores of other individuals residing in each designated housing unit. Families who adopt our training graduates get loving (and well behaved) companions. Veterans and first responders who receive our rescues turned trained service dogs report life-changing results for themselves and their families.

Other correctional institutions often ask us to implement programs at their locations, but we’re currently limited due to funding and resources. We have been judicious in growing our programs and very frugal with our donations as we don’t want to overcommit and disappoint our program partners. Your thoughtful donation would make it possible for us to develop more programs, reduce recidivism rates by educating and inspiring program participants, save the lives of loving shelter dogs, and enrich the lives of adopters and special-needs clients. We truly believe Second Chances Change Lives!

Cell Dogs continues to be an inspiring force in the community. It's a program that serves multiple groups, including incarcerated youth and adults, their supervising staff, rescue dogs from local shelters, and veterans and first responders in need of a service dog. Cell Dogs also promotes pet adoption and works to ensure adopter happiness with a well-behaved pet. Our community benefits.

The program curriculum has been meticulously developed by Janette Thomas and her esteemed colleagues at Cell Dogs, Inc. Drawing from over 100 years of collective experience in the field, this curriculum has now received endorsement as continuing education courses by the California Community College Chancellor's Office. Students participating as trainers in this program can now enroll in the Shelter Dog Obedience Training courses, including Concepts in Dog Training and Practical Dog Training. Upon successful completion, they will receive a Certificate of Completion from Santiago Canyon College Continuing Education Department and the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

This program is beneficial on so many levels, it provides soft and hard skills to aid inmate populations in re-entry and transition into society. It saves taxpayer dollars by lowering recidivism rates and shelter costs. It is life-changing for our veteran and first responders clients suffering from PTSD, and other disabilities. It provides discarded dogs forever homes and brings joy to the adopting families and it changes the quality of life for all involved!

It is a privilege to serve this organization. The challenge lies in the fact that this mighty organizations runs on a lot of goodwill. It has only one full time employee, an unpaid Executive Director, and 3 part-time contractors who run and administer the programs. It is funded by private donors, a few smaller grants, and has operated on a budget under $150,000 annually. To ensure the future of Cell Dogs, the organization needs to gain financial ground to have a paid ED, and at least a second part-time employee as well as sufficient funds to pay contractors for all service hours so they remain available. It remains the organization's goal for 2025 to work on a new strategic plan for its near and further future, and to double its fundraising efforts. One area to explore this year is gaining government funds as our mission aligns perfectly with the justice system's plans of aiding reentry and education to prevent reoffending and a successful transition to becoming a contributing member of society. The strategic plan shall include a 5-year fundraising and operating plan.