Lifestyle

Helping Paws

Magic City K9 works with Everglades Correctional Institute to provide the South Florida community with trained rescue dogs ready to go to their new homes.
Words by Sandy Lindsey | Photos by John Bouma | February 23, 2023 | Lifestyle

The Magic City K9 program is special because founder Dee Hoult designed it specifically to train inmates on how to be professional dog trainers. “I want them to be able to come out of my program and understand and feel empowered to start their own businesses, including several who have been released and gone on to start their own successful dog-training companies,” says Hoult. “These guys are often discriminated against because of their past felony charges, but they are wonderful humans making every effort to make it right and do better.” She continues: “So yes, we save dogs, but the program is improving the quality of life for people…for the inmates, for the adopters who get our awesomely trained dogs, and for the community who will interact with graduates of the rehabilitation and re-entry program.” The incarcerated men transform these dogs into well-behaved, canine good citizens. All dogs go through several months of training before being made available to homes in Florida communities; MagicCityK9.org.