“Operation New Hope” is a partnership between the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and the Greater Savannah Humane Society to give unadoptable dogs in our community a second chance and help rehabilitate inmates in the Chatham County jail.
The Humane Society will bring up to eight dogs into the jail at a time for a four week training course. The dogs will live in the cell with the inmate. Pre-selected, low-risk inmates will housebreak the dogs and teach them several obedience skills in hopes of making the dogs more appealing to families looking to adopt a new pet.
Sheriff St Lawrence said he hopes the program will teach the inmates a new skill set that they can use to find a job once they are released. “Maybe they could get a job at a veterinarian’s office or a pet shop,” the Sheriff said. “I believe letting some of our low-risk inmates train the dogs will also teach them compassion and responsibility and hopefully make this the last time they end up in jail.”
Operation New Hope is the brainchild of CCSO Sgt. Robert Brooks. “There are so many negative connotations with being an inmate. I believe this program allows some of our inmates to give back something positive to the community,” Brooks said.
Operation New Hope is being paid for by private donations and the Greater-Savannah Humane Society. No tax dollars are being used.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the Operation New Hope dogs can contact the Greater Savannah Humane Society at 912-354-9515 ext. 103.