By Sarah Hall

Editor

If you’re looking to adopt a dog, look no further than the Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter in Jamesville, which is hosting its first-ever open house this weekend.

The shelter, located at the Jamesville Correctional Facility, will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, according to Second Chance Board of Directors President Kimberly Ford.

“The shelter is still fairly new, so this is a way for us to spread the word about the program and invite the community in to see the progress we’ve made,” Ford said. “We want to help get the word out and get the public in to meet our dogs and hopefully increase adoptions.”

Second Chance is unique in that it offers that second chance not just to the dogs, but also to some of the inmates at Jamesville. Inmates who meet certain criteria provide care for the dogs in the shelter as part of their rehabilitation before they are released. Those who do participate in the program come out with valuable skills that benefit them when they complete their sentences.

“The goal of the shelter is to give these dogs a second chance they might otherwise not have, but it’s also helping to rehabilitate the inmates. Once they leave the [jail], they’re better prepared for the workforce and to be integrated back into society,” Ford said. “It teaches them important skills, and the responsibility is huge. It’s a pretty full-time gig. They’re here every day. They have set hours. They’re here walking them, feeding them — they’re [the dogs’] primary caregivers. It’s a win-win situation.”

In order to qualify for the program, Ford said inmates must be on good behavior and be nearing the end of their sentence, “and they have to be at Jamesville for a lesser offense — DWI or drugs, not a violent crime,” she said. “This isn’t for hardened criminals.”

Ford said the program provides a benefit not only to the dogs and the inmates, but to the community as a whole.

“These inmates are doing to eventually be released back into society. They could be your next-door neighbor. You don’t know,” she said. “This program helps give them the skills they need in the world instead of sitting in a cell all day long before their release. Working with the dogs, they learn compassion. These are people you’d want living next door to you once they go through this program.”

Ford said it’s heartwarming to watch the relationships bloom between the dogs and the inmates.

“Seeing the huge bond between the inmates and the dogs — it’s amazing,” she said. “They love these dogs. They have their favorites, but they love them all. The dogs are the same. They get very bonded to the inmates.”

The dogs have their own understanding of what it means to have a hard life. The animals come to the shelter from the DeWitt Animal Hospital, which takes in strays from the city of Syracuse. So far, the shelter has placed 17 dogs for adoption since it opened to the public in January; Ford said two more were likely to be adopted out this past weekend. Those interested in adopting a dog can visit the shelter during public hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

“People can come in and look at the dogs we have available,” Ford said. “You can fill out an application if you’re interested in adopting one. We ask for two personal references and a vet reference. If you own a dog at home, we ask that you bring it in for a meet and greet to make sure they’ll get along.”

Upon adoption, all dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped and updated on shots. The adoption fee is $275, which includes all that plus an adoption kit and a bag of dog food and a free visit to the vet at the Chittenango Animal Hospital.

Ford said the inmate care program at Jamesville is not something entirely new.

“This is something that is done all over the country and other places have had great success with it,” she said. “They’ve seen inmates who are otherwise reserved or shy come out of their shells and come to life working with the dogs. It’s teaching them necessary skills.”

The Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter open house is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the shelter, located at 6660 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville.

There will be raffles and silent auction items as well as more than 20 other vendors, including rescues, craft vendors and food trucks (including an ice cream truck), as well as kid-friendly activities like face painting and a bounce house. Live music will be provided by Los Blancos (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Audio Gate Entertainment (2 to 5 p.m.).

Volunteers will walk the dogs around for potential adopters throughout the event. Admission is free; organizers ask that visitors leave their own dogs at home.