03 May 10K Lives Saved: Riot’s Adoption Story
Over the past several years, Last Hope has partnered with two correctional facilities (in Cranston, RI and Bridgewater, MA) for our “Paws in Prison” program. This initiative pairs LHK9 dogs with inmates in a minimum-security unit for a mutually beneficial relationship. The dogs get to spend their time in an environment with plenty of opportunity for human socialization (and playtime!), while the inmates get to experience the responsibility of fostering dogs and helping them learn basic commands, work on their manners with people and other dogs, and more. The rescue helps to share and implement various techniques of dog training that the inmates can then use on a daily basis. Last Hope had 25 dogs pass through this program in the last year alone.
Many inmates that have participated have shared how enriching the program is and have even written letters to be passed on to the dogs’ adoptive families, expressing how much they and the dogs have grown together in their relationship. It has been heartwarming to see how detailed these letters are in sharing what makes each dog special, and how deeply the inmates care about ensuring the dogs’ forever families know all the ins and outs of helping them live their best lives. While there are countless success stories coming out of this program, one of our more recent “graduates” to find his happy ending was Riot the pit bull mix.
Riot made his shelter break in late 2019 and became part of “Paws in Prison” after being transported north in December of that year. During his time in the program, Riot was known for his playful demeanor and became a fast favorite among the inmates and correctional officers. A typical young dog, he had lots of energy and was able to practice polite leash-walking with his partner, as well as other skills that prepared him for adoption. Riot’s search for the perfect home took a little longer than expected due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which paused adoptions for several months in early 2020.
Riot’s adopters learned about LHK9 from friends who foster for the rescue. They submitted their application at the beginning of the pandemic and, after being approved to adopt, began attending virtual adoption showcases. During one of these showcases, Riot’s adopters saw him and immediately fell in love. After meeting in person, they knew that he was meant to be a part of their family.
After Riot was adopted, the adjustment period was a bit of a struggle for him and his adopters. Riot is their first dog and, while he knows basic commands and is crate trained, he is a very energetic boy. Riot’s adopters reached out to the LHK9 Post-Adoptions team for advice and found a trainer to help. Riot has since learned some new tricks and is also working on his off-leash recall. In the words of his adopters, “Riot was the missing piece to complete our family. Today we enjoy trips to the beach/lake, boating, hikes, camping, and especially visiting dog-friendly breweries together. He is so much more than just a pet and we can’t imagine our lives without this little man. Thank you Last Hope K9 for finding him, keeping him safe while he waited for us.”
To help us save more dogs like Burgh, please donate to our $10k for 10k fundraiser.
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