Gadsden Correctional Facility Turns Promising Puppies into

News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Martha Johnson
T: 407 522-3305
C: 407 721-4767
E-mail: [email protected]
Gadsden Correctional Facility Program Turns Promising Puppies
into Potential Assistance Dogs
(Orlando, FL)…They arrive at the Gadsden Correctional Facility (GCF) as eight-week old yellow
and black cute balls of fur with lots of potential, but in need of partners to help shape them into
trustworthy assistance dogs. Once they are turned back into Canine Companions for
Independence (CCI) for additional professional training, the carefully selected inmates at GCF
have helped the puppies master 30 commands and have provided basic obedience instruction.
CCI partnered with GCF in 2006 to help them train their specially bred puppies as part of their
efforts to provide an assistance dog to adults, children and veterans with physical and
development disabilities. CCI and GCF have worked diligently to make this a successful
program, one that teaches inmates responsibility, selflessness and marketable skills and gives
deserving individuals with disabilities highly-trained companions. GCF has raised more than 100
puppies for CCI and currently is raising 11 of the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever
puppies from CCI’s own breeding program.
“CCI puppies have a special purpose in life, growing up to provide independence to a person with
a disability. The CCI prison puppy raising program at GCF benefits the puppies, the inmates
chosen to raise the puppies and helps us fulfill our mission,” said LeAnn Siefferman, CCI’s
Southeast Region puppy program manager.
What: Demonstration of Canine Companions prison puppy raising program
Where: Gadsden Correctional Facility, 6044 Greensboro Highway. Quincy, Florida 32353
Interviews, Photos and Videos Available: Yes
Background checks required. Please contact Martha Johnson to make arrangements.
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About Canine Companions for Independence
Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with
disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
It is the largest non-profit organization in the world that provides assistance dogs for people with physical
disabilities. The Southeast Region of Canine Companions for Independence serves Florida, Georgia,
8150 Clarcona Ocoee Road  Orlando, FL 32818
News Release
For Immediate Release
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi. For more information
about CCI contact the Southeast Regional Center at 800-572-BARK, or visit their web site at www.cci.org.
About Gadsden Correctional Facility
Gadsden Correctional Facility is a state of Florida correctional facility and is contracted to house
community, minimum and medium custody adult female inmates and has a 1,544-bed capacity.
8150 Clarcona Ocoee Road  Orlando, FL 32818

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