The Pen Pals program at Allen Gamble Correctional Center graduated its 100th class this week, bringing the total number of dogs trained through the program to 1,001. Research to date suggests that prison dog programs are associated with reduced recidivism, highlighting the initiative’s potential to benefit both inmates and the community.

The milestone underscores two decades of work at the correctional facility to pair incarcerated handlers with shelter dogs, preparing animals for adoption while giving participating men daily responsibility and companionship. The program is overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and runs in partnership with local animal rescues to place the dogs into the community. Additionally, evidence from systematic reviews demonstrates that dog-based prison interventions often lead to improved psychosocial outcomes for participants, enhancing their overall emotional health.

At the graduation event, Kay Thompson, chief of Public Relations for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, summarized the program’s purpose: “The Pen Pals program exemplifies the power of second chances, both for the dogs and the inmates.” Her remarks framed the milestone as both a numerical achievement and a human one, as volunteers and organizations in the community are encouraged to support similar dog training programs through fostering and adoption efforts.

Inside the prison, incarcerated handlers live with and train each dog as part of successive classes that culminate in a formal graduation. “One thousand and one dogs entering these gates, leaving with wags of hope because of all you guys,” said Johnathan Cox, a dog trainer who works with the Pen Pals program, addressing the handlers during the event. Research on prison-based dog programs suggests participants may experience improvements in measures such as anxiety, depression, and impulsivity, contributing to better psychosocial functioning and personal development.

For many participants, the work is far more than vocational. “I have a bougie dog. She eats what I eat. I cook for her, bathe her. It’s like having a child,” said Michael Hall, an inmate who has trained dogs in the program, describing the close bonds that form between handlers and animals.

Not every graduate goes to a private home. Some dogs are placed into roles that serve organizations and teams in the wider community: Cojo, one of the dogs who graduated this week, was selected to become an emotional support animal for the Austin College Softball team and will be part of the team roster. Gracie Ore, coach with the Austin College Softball team, is associated with that placement.

Program coordinators and prison staff work with local animal rescues to identify dogs in need of socialization and training, then prepare the animals for adoption or other placements when classes end. Those partnerships are central to the Pen Pals model: inmates provide extended daily care and basic obedience, while rescues handle public adoption logistics after graduation. As interest grows, many are encouraged to consider volunteering or adopting dogs that are ready for loving homes.

Staff and participants marked the 100th graduation with remarks and recognition of the program’s scale and continuity. Organizers point to the dual outcome that has become the program’s hallmark: dogs leave ready for homes or community roles, and inmates gain skills, structure, and a sense of purpose through their daily responsibilities.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections highlighted the milestone and the program’s two-decade span in an official release about the event; additional coverage has followed local reporting of the graduation and placements.

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Original reporting: view the original article.