PAWS Program

Paroling Animals With Skills or PAWS. PAWS is a cooperative effort between Lewis Clark Animal Shelter and Idaho Correctional Institution- Orofino (ICI-O).

The shelter selects dogs that may have behavioral/socialization or obedience issues for an eight week training program at ICI-O. Hand-picked incarcerated men who have completed a dog training course will be individually assigned to dogs that they will be responsible for during the eight weeks. Each trainer/dog team will work strenuously on basic obedience and social skills that many shelter dogs lack. At the end of the eight weeks, the dogs will return to the shelter where they will come up for adoption. Wait until you see how well trained these dogs come out! This will really make a lasting effect on these dogs as they will be much less likely to return to the shelter or bounced around to different homes with this training.

The shelter dogs are placed with a team that then trains them on a week to week basis that achains behaivors with commands. The dogs are also taught how to properly play and interact with one another in supervised play sessions.  Trainers keep detaialed logs for their dog's progress and provide the shelter with feedback on what type of home would be best for their temperament and energy level.

The PAWS Program is a community and as such all participates hold jobs within the program - from janitor to inventory, photographer to leadership.

Part of the mission of the program is that both animal and man find success in all aspects of life ~ this program has and continues to change lives for incarcerated men and the shelter dogs.  Recent article in the Lewiston Tribune about ICI-O - HERE