Eleven puppies from the Flagler Humane Society have a new temporary home at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where they will be cared for by inmates participating in the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s SMART program.
SMART, which stands for Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment, is an in-custody, evidence-based treatment program designed to help inmates work through mental health and addiction challenges. The program has earned national recognition for combining structure, accountability, and hard work with animal companionship.
Seven male inmates in the SMART program are now responsible for the care of the 11 puppies, including feeding schedules, cleanup duties, and daily supervision. Program organizers say the routine and responsibility involved in caring for the animals reflects the same daily structure and sense of purpose that research shows are important factors in long-term recovery.
The arrangement also benefits the Flagler Humane Society. Housing the litter at the detention facility frees up kennel space at the shelter, and the puppies will return to the adoption pipeline well-fed and socialized.
This is not the first collaboration between the SMART program and the Flagler Humane Society. Male inmates in the program recently designed and built four large dog shelters — each 12 feet tall and 12 feet by 12 feet wide — to give shelter dogs shade and a safe space to play while their kennels are cleaned.
In the women’s SMART program, participants are currently fostering seven orphaned kittens, bottle-feeding and providing around-the-clock care. Officials describe the kitten-fostering initiative as one of the program’s most popular components.
“These puppies went from homeless to having seven personal trainers overnight, that’s no ruff deal,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “But make no mistake; this is more than puppy love. Caring for another living thing teaches our inmates responsibility, patience and purpose, and those skills help our SMART participants turn their lives around. It’s a win for the inmates, a win for the Humane Society, and a win for the puppies. That’s about as good as it gets at the Green Roof Inn.”
The puppies will remain with inmates until they are old enough to be placed up for adoption. Residents interested in adopting a puppy, kitten, or other pet are encouraged to visit flaglerhumanesociety.org.
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