Hello, my name is Jameel Coles. I am 42-years old and I have been incarcerated for 23 years on a Life Without parole sentence. Since I was a young child I have always had a dog. My first two dogs were named Benji and Solo (Hans Solo of Star Wars). My last two dogs, prior…

When I joined the Paws for Life K9 Rescue program I simply wanted to help the Dogs. I then met an elderly dog named Georgia. She gave so much to me – love, kindness, and a new purpose. I was again blessed with a dog called Miracle, who became Happy because he truly was, a…

My first arrest earned this prison sentence far from everything I love and recall. My 62 years began in a farm town on a cattle ranch and working at Dad’s gas station and G’Dad’s grocery store. Helping others after college and fatherhood are my fondest memories! Paws for Life reminds me of always having a…

After 30 plus years of incarceration, I feel honored to have the opportunity to work for Paws for Life K9 Rescue. Training dogs has helped me to feel more like a human being, it provides me with an avenue to give back to society. After the irreparable harm that I caused so many years ago,…

I grew up in the system – learning how to be a cold and callous criminal because I believed that was my way to survive. Eventually I had to make a choice: Grow up and become a responsible, accountable adult, or remain the same and continue to die from the inside out. Sobriety came hard…

I’ve been part of the PFL family for a brief seven months now, and it’s been life changing. PFL has allowed me to work with four awesome dogs who have touched me internally in ways that only a true dog lover would be able to identify. This program is a program that is filled with…

I cannot change the past but I am actively changing my future by changing myself. Being a part of PFL allows me to continue my personal transformation. My goal is to be unrecognizable from the man who first came to prison. I was a selfish individual and now I am a giver, whether through my…

This program help facilitate rehabilitation through caring, compassion, patience, responsibility and community. The integration of love of animals and the willingness to help rescued animal is the focus of PFL. As a member of this program for almost six years, I have had the privilege to work with some great dogs and some amazing people.…

My name is Richard Fontes, and I’m a 53-year old first termer serving Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP). Perhaps the biggest misconception about the Paws for Life K9 Rescue (PFL) program, is that we save the dogs – in fact, the dogs are the ones rescuing us. Working with these amazing animals is…

Paws for Life has made me dig a little deeper in my heart to see the goodness in a person. The love of a dog is one thing, but the love and compassion to and from a person can change your life. Each day I’m getting closer to that with the help of a dog.…