‘Operation Second Chance’ Program Gives Inmates The Opportunity To Train Rescue Dogs

Grace Walker | WABE

February 7th, 2020

Cersei is a German Shepherd and Operation Second Chance participant.

Joy Barge / WABE

At the Gwinnett County Jail,  a program called ‘Operation Second Chance’ gives inmates the opportunity to rescue dogs in need of loving homes.

The idea began back in 2010, with a partnership with the Georgia Society of Human Friends.

  • Brodie relaxes in the lap of one of the Operation Second Chance volunteers. (Joy Barge)
  • Trainers can design name tags for their dogs, which live with them part-time in their cells. (Joy Barge)
  • Cersei is a German Shepherd and has been in the Operation Second Chance program at Gwinnett County Jail for a few months. (Joy Barge)
  • Brodie, the long haired chihuahua, in the cell with his trainer. Dogs sleep with their assigned trainers in their cells. (Joy Barge)
  • Operation Second Chance is a rehabilitation program for dogs and inmates at Gwinnett County Jail. (Joy Barge)
  • Deputy Cody Walker is the Operation Second Chance Coordinator at Gwinnett County Jail. (Joy Barge)
  • Deputy Cody Walker keeps a list of the dogs that are currently in the jail dog program. They are graded on their strengths, weaknesses and readiness for adoption. (Joy Barge)
  • Max sits for his trainer. (Joy Barge)

Since then, the program has grown to include more dogs and more adoptions. Last year, the program celebrated its ninth year and its 500th rescue dog adoption.

To hear more about how the program has grown since it first began, the “Closer Look with Rose Scott” team visited the jail in 2019 to speak with Deputy Cody Walker and to meet some of the inmate handlers and their dogs.

Hear the full story above.

WABE’s Joy Barge contributed to this report.

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