By Frank Abderholden
Chicago Sun Times
CHICAGO — Lake County inmates started spending time with caged animals Tuesday in Mundelein.
Under the new program, nonviolent inmates work to help train and socialize animals at the Lake County Animal Control shelter.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. “We’re hoping to help rescued animals get ready for adoption with socialization.”
Officials said they also hope the program helps inmates feel better.
“People in jail historically have anti-social tendencies,” Curran said.
But Curran said animals like “puppies love unconditionally.”
‘I do enjoy playing with them’
Inmates Kyra Jones, 18, of Waukegan and Amber Lacour, 23, of Fox Lake helped out at the shelter to help socialize 10 10-week-old mixed pit bull puppies.
The dogs were recently confiscated from a house in Round Lake Park because of unsanitary conditions.
Jones and Lacour were inside a small holding pen in the back of the facility where the puppies ran around with chew toys, playing with each other and playfully tugging on one inmate’s shoe, pants and anything else they could get their baby teeth into.
“I love animals,” said Lacour, who is serving time for retail theft.
“I’m not the type of person to be in here. I want to get out of here and move on with my life and help animals. [The puppies] need attention, obviously.”
But Jones said she wouldn’t want one for a pet because “me and dogs never get along.”
But she added, “I do enjoy playing with them. This is a different experience.”
Copyright 2009 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.