Inmates at the Onondaga County Justice Center can now be assured that any pets they leave behind while incarcerated will be taken care of.
Starting Oct. 7, the justice center began asking inmates to note whether they have a pet during booking. If they do, they’ll be allowed a call to a friend or relative to ask that the pet be cared for during their absence.
“What we’re trying to do is the same thing we do for [inmates caring for] children or the elderly,” said Deputy Melissa Robar, who helped to implement the program. “When they come into custody, they want to know their pets are being taken care of. It’s one less stressor for them to know that they’re safe, they have food and water, they’re not outside, they’re not left without care.”
Though the protocol was just implemented a couple of weeks ago, Robar said it’s something the justice center has been working on for a long time.
“For a lot of years, we’ve been hearing inmates talking about their pets at home and how they don’t know if someone is taking care of them,” she said. “And they’re worried because a lot of times, all they have is each other.”
Robar said the impetus for the change came after a case in Rochester, in which an inmate at the city’s local jail left his dog behind during his incarceration. The inmate told deputies that a friend was caring for his dog. However, it soon became clear there was no friend; the dog, called Patrick, was found clinging to life. Fortunately, he was able to be nursed back to health, but the owner was charged with neglect and animal cruelty. Robar said Onondaga County doesn’t want to see a similar case here.
In Syracuse, inmates will have the opportunity to reach out to loved ones to ensure that their pets are looked after. If they have no one, they’ll be connected with a representative from the Central New York SPCA.
“If they feel that they want to relinquish their pet for adoption, they can do that,” Robar said. “Or they can work it out with them so that their pet will be held for them until they get out of incarceration.”
This is the only county program of its kind in the country, though Robar said she hopes that will change.
“We’re hoping more will pick up on it and offer the policy to their inmates so that it’s one less thing for them to worry about,” she said.
Robar said the program is meant to ease the minds of inmates and is reflective of the compassion employees at the justice center have for those in their charge.
“Between the Jail Ministries and the SPCA, we have a broad horizon of people willing to help out our population and make them more comfortable if you do have to spend time here,” she said. “For a lot of people, pets are their family. Knowing they can eventually get out and get home to them gives them a reason to do better and get back out into society. It gives them a reason to strive to do better.”
