A mutually beneficial arrangement led four incarcerated individuals from the Erie County Correctional Facility to the White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary in the Village of Akron on Tuesday, February 4th. The sanctuary relies on volunteers to support its operations. The incarcerated individuals are seeking workforce development opportunities.
“To have the help is just amazing,” said Polla Milligan, the founder and manager of the dog sanctuary. She describes it as a “home for older dogs that nobody wants.”
“When they come here, they have a completely different life than they would have in a shelter,” she said. “We don’t have kennels. Dogs are free roaming. They sleep wherever they want. It’s all about the dogs.”
Milligan is opening the sanctuary, which can house as many as 25 dogs, at the site of a former VFW post that was built in the 1950s. She has spent years raising money, planning and renovating the building. There is still some work left to be done. So, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Forestry Program, which is part of the Community Reintegration Division, stepped in to help out. The four incarcerated individuals spent the day painting the visitor and volunteer kitchen at the dog sanctuary under the supervision of Correction Officers Jason Puleo and Nick Hendel.
“Part of our responsibility is to prepare incarcerated individuals for a life outside of jail,” said Sheriff John Garcia. “That’s why our Community Reintegration Division focuses on teaching them workforce development skills, such as painting. If we can help them to establish those qualifications, it decreases the likelihood that they will return to our custody after they are released. It is good for them and good for the Erie County taxpayer.”
The incarcerated individuals were enthusiastic to learn a new talent. One of them said he jumped at the opportunity so that he could learn how to paint his newborn daughter’s bedroom after he is released.
As the renovation work on the building continues, they are anticipating an official ribbon cutting in May.