SHARE:  
REENTRY WEEK
"It is never easy, in a few short words, to sum up the value of my experience in PPP. The opportunity to grow through working with dogs while incarcerated was arguably one of the most transformative experiences of my life.

I often say that the walls that I had built around myself (for protection) prior to working in PPP were impenetrable by human means. In a short time of working with the dogs of PPP, those walls came tumbling down and I, as a result, was able to begin rebuilding myself and my life.

My life today, as a result, is unrecognizable. Upon release from incarceration, I was immediately able to begin working at Grateful Dogs Grooming, where I remained for two years while pursuing a bachelor's degree from The Evergreen State College. I earned my BA in 2021 and I am currently in my final quarter of an Applied Animal Behavior Certificate program at UW, thanks to a scholarship from PPP, and have applied to a Master of Public Administration program to begin in the fall (fingers crossed, y'all!). 

Today, I work as an Outreach Specialist for the Olympia Police Department’s Familiar Faces program, and I am able to serve my community by providing an alternative response to that of traditional policing. I still groom, on occasion—mostly for friends—and I provide accessible dog training to the people I serve through Familiar Faces who have pets. I live a life of purpose—a purpose I first glimpsed in those early days at PPP when I understood that I was, in fact, more than the sum total of my greatest mistakes."

Melissa is one of many PPP Program Graduates living vibrant and successful lives due to the positive impacts of human-animal bond reentry programming. After being closed for nearly two years, PPP has reopened Boarding and Grooming Services, and is working to begin Service Dog Training by early June.

Now is YOUR opportunity to support PPP's mission to enrich the lives of incarcerated individuals, animals, and the community through the human-animal bond. Eary giving is now open for Washington Give's GiveBig Campaign. Visit https://www.wagives.org/organization/Prisonpetpartnership today or you can commit to donating during the GiveBig Campaign May 3 - 4.

Thank you for giving local and for supporting the oldest Prison Pet Program in the United States.