Much like the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s BARK Dorm, the CATS Dorm (Creating Attachment Through Safety) program at McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility in Mart, TX is providing young women with some real-life lessons in caring for others thanks to some feline friends.
Changing the Lives of Young Women
While the BARK Dorm (Building Attachment And Resilience K-9 ) pairs young men with dogs who are in need of temporary housing due to their owners experiencing a housing, financial, addiction or other transitional crisis, the cats in the CATS Dorm are paired with young women and are there for a few weeks before they are adopted out to find their forever homes or are returned once their owners are back on their feet.
The six current resident felines were brought in earlier this year as part of PASS (Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender) and Dallas Pets Alive. These organizations coordinate with local pet owners to help keep pets out of overcrowded shelters where they are at risk of being overlooked or worse, euthanized. Nine cats in total have been involved in the CATS Dorm since its inception, with three lucky kitties finding new homes through adoption.
Caring for the Cats Teaches Life Skills
The goal of the CATS Dorm is to not only give the felines a safe temporary home while awaiting adoption, but also to help the incarcerated youths improve their skills in teamwork, cooperation, problem-solving, critical thinking, and patience. (If you have ever tried to train a cat to do tricks, you can understand how this program builds patience in particular!)
Case workers say that helping the girls refine these skills will also improve their interactions with other people and help them build for success in the future.
At both the BARK Dorm and CATS Dorm, young men and women who are incarcerated have the opportunity to earn their way into the program by exhibiting both good behavior and good grades in school.
“The cats give me emotional support while I’m here,” says one youth. “I battle with depression, so the cats are helping me cope.”
The furry residents have their own room in the dorm, complete with comfy bedding, food, water, litter boxes, climbing areas, and plenty of cat toys. The dorm is overseen by a team including an administrator, Juvenile Correction Officer (JCO) leaders, mental health staff, and case workers who help determine which youth are a good fit for the program.
The cats roam the pod in the mornings after breakfast, morning duties, and chores are taken care of and stay out visiting with the girls until lunchtime and classes resume. After the school day, recreation time, and dinner are complete, the cats are usually let out again before bedtime.
“When the first cats arrived, we began to learn responsibilities,” another young woman said. “By working together as a pod, we participate in daily chores and activities involving the cats. This gives me responsibilities that I need in order to get ready to re-enter my community.”
The girls clean the cats’ room every day and always make sure that there is fresh food and water available, as well as clean litter boxes.
Hands (and Paws)-on Learning
The youth in the CATS Dorm have the opportunity to take a course in small animal management as a part of their education curriculum. The resident cats also benefit from their time with the girls as they become more sociable and thus more adoptable.
Far Reaching Impact
The cats’ presence impacts more than just the young women at the facility. “I have grown a bond with the cats because I am with them twice a week for DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) group,” says TJJD Volunteer Services Coordinator, Jennifer Moore. “The cats have changed so much since they first got here because of the socialization and love that they receive from the girls and the staff.”
According to Sarah McGoldrick, VP of Animal Operations at DPA, this program is truly changing lives by providing a safe haven for cats while offering incarcerated youth a second chance to develop valuable life skills. “It’s incredibly heartwarming to witness the profound impact these animals have on the young individuals involved,” she states, “At DPA, we strongly believe in supporting both ends of the leash, and this innovative program goes above and beyond in making a meaningful difference.”
The cats’ stay at the CATS Dorm is relatively short but the pawprints left behind on the hearts of the young women in the dorm will surely last a lifetime.
