Sep 11, 2008 10:41 am US/Eastern
Texas Prisoners To Clean Cages At Animal Pound
(CBS)
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A pilot program will let inmates do the dirty work so Animal Control employees can focus on other tasks.
CBS
Fort Worth Animal Control handles thousands of animals each year, and it has only a handful of workers. Now the city may have found the help it's looking for - at the county jail.
When animal control has visitors looking to adopt a pet, they know what people see is important.
"I stopped in earlier today. I was impressed with the facility, and everybody was real friendly," said shelter visitor Bruce Roberson. "They showed me around and I liked it."
But what Roberson didn't see are the never ending tasks that would leave visitors howling if they were left undone.
Works spend hours unfolding papers and lining cages, and a non-stop demand for clean puppy pads. There's cage cleaning and floor cleaning.
Just over half a dozen people are not only supposed to do this, but check animals for heart worms, give them shots and wait on clients.
Now the city will try to find help with prisoners. A pilot program will let inmates do the dirty work so employees can focus on other tasks.
"We'll work closely with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department to provide a safe environment," said Scott Hanlan with the Public Health Department. "We haven't worked out the details yet, but I'm sure they'll provide us with the details we need to provide a safe environment."
Fort Worth Animal Control says visitors will likely never see prisoners in the pound.
"I think that's a good idea. Help 'em earn back a little of their keep for our tax dollars that are keeping them locked up," said Roberson.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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