Introducing...Class 15 of the FIDO Project:
"Wizard of Pawz"

The "Wizard of Pawz" class are now living at and in training at the Marion Correctional Institution Work Camp. All dogs have been adopted except Kansas.

Kansas is an energetic girl who will require an owner who is able to regularly exercise her and provide her with plenty of interactive play time. She likes other dogs and is friendly to strangers. She is not ideal for a cat household. She is extremely affectionate and is a bit of a leash puller, but we're working on it! 

If you'd like to meet Kansas, please submit a no-obligation application and we can make arrangements for you to meet the this lovely girl. To see more images of the dogs and to keep up with their progress, follow us on Facebook!

 Class 15 graduation: Aug. 2 at the Marion Work Camp. 

 Check out our Facebook page to see the new group meeting the men at the MCI Work Camp.

^{About the FIDO Project}

This program is a partnership with Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) for the FIDO project. A few select inmates of Marion Correctional Institution Work Camp have embarked on a journey with some of our homeless shelter dogs. These men will prepare the dogs by training them in basic obedience and socialization, with a goal of being able to pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test, the gold standard for dog behavior.

All dogs involved in this program will be available for adoption, and we hope the new owners will continue to practice the skills that they will have learned at MCI. The men will live with and keep journals for each dog and practice training every day. At the end of the training, the new families attend the graduation event at the prison and meet the trainers, handlers and staff.

How to adopt a FIDO graduate

During each eight-week class, the public will get an opportunity to meet the dogs at two public outings. The outings will be held at local businesses or other venues in which the potential adopters can spend quality time with each dog and decide which one would be best suited for their family. Adoption applications can be submitted at that time, and adoptions can be approved and finalized while they are still being trained at MCI. The dogs will be required to remain in the program to complete their training, but the adopters can take home their new family member upon graduation!

We will post announcements and updates about the program on our MCAS Facebook page, so please, follow us! Feel free to email us with any questions, offers, or ideas.

If you would like to adopt one of our trained FIDO project graduates; apply here!

How you can help

Local businesses who would like to host an adoption event for our prison dog program, please email us.

Your donations are appreciate to keep this program running! You may drop off donations at Animal Services, hold a collection drive or bring donations to one of our adoption events. You can also search for our wish list on Amazon. We would truly appreciate the following items:

• Zukes mini dog treats, or any other training treats.
• New durable toys
• Bully sticks dog chews
• Printing or sign companies who are willing to donate any advertising material, such as banners, flyers, decals or t-shirts. We'll supply the graphics. *This is one of our most needed items!
• Sponsors to support this program/host events, collect donations and help spread the word!
• Goodies that will be given to adoptive families at graduation ceremony (gift certificates or coupons, t-shirts, leashes, toys, food, treats, books.)
• Local artists and professional photographers can surely be of value!
• Monetary donations can be given in person, by mail or online here.
• Donations can also be made through our Amazon Wish List.

We need volunteers to help us at adoption events, transport goods, collect donations, and more! Apply here!

Donations can also be made to Animal Services by mail at:
Marion County Animal Services/The FIDO project
5701 SE 66th St.
Ocala, FL 34480