Richard Fontes

Richard

Occupation: Dog Trainer

location: CMF

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 a privilege and they’ve taught me the true meaning of compassion.
My service in PFL cannot miraculously erase the unimaginable heartache I’ve caused so many people, however, it has given me the opportunity to make a minuscule, yet meaningful, dent in the incalculable debt I owe for my senseless actions. In that capacity, PFL is a gateway for myself and my peers to provide unconditional love and empathy for our dogs, and, equally as important, it requires that we set aside our previously selfish agendas in order to see life through the lens of those we’ve harmed.