Hays County District Judge Tanner Neidhardt and Leslie Hutson, executive director of the PAWS Shelter, announced a pilot program for probationers to earn community service for time spent fostering shelter pets.
“Leslie and I were talking about how much PAWS needs foster families for their animals,” Neidhardt said. “And we know how a happy dog can pull us out of bad times, which is often where people in the criminal justice system find themselves.”
Caring for pets also breeds responsibility, Neidhardt said.
“That’s a quality we want to promote in probationers,” he said. “This program brings these needs together.”
Hutson agreed. “Fostering is a guaranteed way to save an animal's life,” she said. “Life in a shelter is not ideal for many animals and this fostering for service program will be very helpful for PAWS.”
The ‘Foster For Service’ program will be administered in conjunction with Hays County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. Jessica Baldassari, Deputy Director of the CSCD expressed enthusiasm for the program.
“This is not solely earning community service credit,” Baldassari said. “We think this program will help bring a positive focus in our clients’ lives.”
Baldassari added, “The program embodies the vision statement of the CSCD, which is to promote continuous improvement and accomplish permanent change in the lives of others, thereby creating a safe community.”
As with any fostering situation, the organizing team wants to ensure the animals will not be mistreated. Probationers must pass a PAWS screening test like any foster family.
“We make it our mission to ensure that each pet in our care is provided with a safe environment while in a foster home,” Hutson said. “The well-being, care and enrichment of a PAWS animal is our number one goal.”
According to Baldassari, the Foster For Service pilot program will roll out slowly.
“A great amount of thought has gone into working with Ms. Hutson and Judge Tanner Neidhardt to outline what will make this program successful,” she said.
The program garnered support from all the Hays County District Judges — Judge Sherri Tibbe, 453rd District Court; Judge Bruce Boyer, 22nd District Court; Judge Tracie Wright-Reneau 207th District Court; Judge Gary Steel, 274th District Court and Judge Joe Pool, 428th District Court.
Ultimately, the program organizers believe this is a new idea worth trying.
“We are enthusiastic about probationers loving their pets more than old bad habits,” Neidhardt said. “We want people on probation to be successful.”
He added, “Now they can have man’s and woman’s best friend on that journey to success.”
