History
Friends of Paws in Prison is the nonprofit that supports the Paws in Prison program located in the Lockhart women's prison in Lockhart, Texas. Founded in 2007 by the late Machelle Gaconnet, the organization was originally funded by a private prison management company. Today the program is funded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Specialties
Paws in Prison educates female inmates for greater responsibility and empathy through the rescue and training of shelter dogs to be adopted by the public. The women who participate in the Paws in Prison program are given an opportunity to earn certifications that could benefit them for job opportunities after prison release. Our dogs are trained in basic obedience training, are house broken, microchipped, spayed and neutered.