At Soledad Prison, 23 incarcerated men are making a difference—not just in their own lives, but in the lives of rescue dogs facing euthanasia. They’re part of a unique rehabilitation effort called TAILS, short for Transforming Animals and Individuals’ Lives.
Raymond Avila, the lead educator of the program, says the experience has been life-changing. “It brought that kid out of me again,” said Avila, who served 20 years in prison. “Being responsible for a living being that relies on you for food, water, and shelter taught me to be a better person and a better communicator.”
Since his release a year ago, Avila has returned to the prison as a volunteer to support the program that gave him purpose.
TAILS launched on Christmas Day 2023, after the prison’s previous service dog training program was shut down. Two prison staff members saw the need to help rescue dogs and started TAILS in partnership with South County Animal Rescue.
The program is entirely volunteer-based and brings in dogs of all sizes for training. “This is like having a child 24/7. They are responsible for that animal and they learn so much about themselves—patience, care, commitment,” said Shannon Dunaven, a correctional counselor and co-founder of TAILS.
So far, 33 dogs have completed the program and found homes throughout South County.
Inmates not only train the dogs in obedience and social behavior, but also prepare them for adoption. Some even decorate their cells with photos of their assigned dogs and build custom dog houses by hand.
For Ryan Renz, one of the program participants, the lesson has gone beyond obedience training. “Dogs deserve more than just commands,” he said. “They deserve compassion, care, and a second chance.”
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