4/12/2024 This week was a great week for Jaida! You can tell she’s really starting to feel herself, as she’s out and about more, doing all her cues and in all different areas too! She’s just so smart and once she trusts you, the sky really is the limit with her!

Jaida isn’t just a dog, and she’s not just a well trained dog, she’s a best friend! She’s loving and loyal and she will be true to the very end. All she wants to do is find her best friend, her forever family that will spend time taking her for leisurely strolls, lets her bask in the sun, and chase critters out of the yard. She also likes to play fetch too!

…HOPE Trainer here…Jaida is completely ready for her forever home, so if you’ve been waiting for just the right time, its now! She could easily fit into a quiet retirement home, or a calm home that likes to go for hikes on the weekend, or strolls around the neighborhood. Jaida can be your couch potato, weekend warrior, and your canine companion all in one wonderful dog! As with every HOPE dog, whether they’ve been with us for 1 day or over 400 days, Jaida comes with FREE training support, no matter the issue. 

Jaida is sponsored by Canine Rescue of Central PA, Kennel License 3443. You can apply to ADOPT or FOSTER Jaida here, https://www.crcpa.org/online-application

4/5/2024 Jaida is a big teddy bear 🧸 All she wants to do is be loved ❤️ Jaida loves being around me and she will come right up and just back up on me, hunch her back and beg for pets.  We call this backing into the garage!  (…don’t tell Jaida’s handler, but I - HOPE Trainer - watched her do this to several people while we practiced the Canine Good Citizen skill, Supervised Separation 😂).

Jaida just thinks she’s a big ol’ baby!  She has the biggest heart and she’s loving and playful too!  Her and Loki are becoming best friends too.  They play together with no problems, Loki off leash and Jaida off leash just for safety (since she doesn’t always like dogs in her space).  Its great to watch and maybe she could do well with a super laid back dog like Loki? 

Jaida has been with HOPE for a little over 1 year now, and she’s come such a long way from the shy, nervous girl she once was!

Jaida is sponsored by Canine Rescue of Central PA, Kennel License 3443.  You can apply to ADOPT or FOSTER Jaida here, https://www.crcpa.org/online-application

3/29/2024 Jaida has been doing so good, she will actually play with the other dogs, but we keep it should because we want her to learn how to accept other dogs, not challenge them (like she does with Hazel).  For the most part she is doing great with it, our HOPE trainer is even surprised as how well she does with some of the dogs! 

I believe that giving Jaida a chance and working with her,she has made some BIG chances.  She is such a loving dog who enjoys being around people, especially people that she knows.  And she loves getting pets from them too!  Everyone loves seeing Jaida come out of her shell and we all want to see her make it to the next chapter of her life.  Jaida deserves love, and has a whole lot to give too!

3/22/2024 Hey everybody! Jaida’s Handler has this to say about our girl…“Jaida is like fine wine, she gets better with age! Each day I work with Jaida to help her overcome her fears of being around a large crowd. What I have noticed is that Jiada can’t process in a large crowd unless she keeps moving. I get it, she loves being around people she knows, and smaller crowds of people is where she is most comfortable. 

Jaida needs a family that is laid back, just like her, who love going for walks and being outside just lounging around. She is such a good dog and she’s so deserving of a loving, caring family of her own. She will be your best friend for life!”

3/15/2024 Boy, I am so darn proud of Jaida that I can barely contain myself. She had the biggest accomplishment this past week that defied all odds. Loki was off leash, and he and Jaida started playing. They both did great! They'll play, then take a break, then play some more. 

Jaida has overcome so much since she's been in the HOPE program. She overcame her fear of strangers, and now, she is getting along with come of the dogs here--such a milestone for her! The folks here love Jaida, and she gets FIVE STARS this week. Jaida is my "fighting champ," defying all odds!

3/08/2024 Jaida has come such a long way during her time in HOPE. She used to be nervous and scared of loud noises. With training and persistence on both our parts, she has really improved. She now loves being around people and moves with confidence. She is more than ready for her forever family. 

Love can go a long way for the dogs in HOPE. That's all they really ask for. We show them love so they can overcome the things that may have held them back so that they can get a second chance. Will anyone out there give Jaida her second chance? She sure does deserve it. 

3/1/2024 Hello everyone! Jaida is doing great! I've been training her for a year now. She has come such a long way. She used to be shy and nervous at first, so I have been working with her on that. Now Jaida will go up to people with absolutely no problem. She will sit pretty for them and let them pet her. I honestly think she is the dog in HOPE that has made the most progress since being here! 

 
Jaida would love to have a home with a family that likes to go on leisurely walks and has a quieter home. She's an older girl, after all! She needs her couch time too, LOL.
The love that Jaida gives is priceless. I sure wish someone out there would give her a chance.

2/16/2024 Jaida had the time of her life playing in the snow this week. We were outside in the play yard. I made little snow balls and threw them for Jaida. She chased them and then ate them. She had a blast running back and forth kicking up snow.

I would love for Jaida to find a home of her own where she can play in the snow with her forever family. I don't understand why no one has applied to adopt this wonderful girl.

2/9/2024 Jaida can't believe that she will still be single for her favorite holiday--Valentine's Day! Jaida has her paws crossed that she will receive an adoption application very soon!

Jaida's handler wants to know--

"Where are all the senior dog lovers?

Senior dogs, like Jaida, are THE BEST! They are laid back, GREAT couch potatoes and cuddle buddies, like to go for leisurely walks, and are housebroken and very low maintenance. In addition to having these great traits, Jaida is a total wiggle butt just waiting to wiggle her way into your heart and home! Will SOMEONE out there please give her a chance?"

You can meet Jaida on Thursday, February 15, 4 to 6 pm, Pizza Hut, 10 Sporting Green Drive, Mechanicsburg (next to Sam's Club). Pizza Hut is generously donating 20 percent of their proceeds from February 15 to CPAA! All you have to do is present the flyer attached here!

Pizza Hut is also collecting donations of toys and treats for the HOPE dogs throughout the ENTIRE month of February! So even if you can't stop by on February 15, you still have plenty of time to drop off a toy or bag of treats for the HOPE pups. Just place your donations in the bone-shaped doggie pool inside the front door.

The HOPE dogs thank you!

2/2/2024 Jaida continues to do really well! She loves to go on walks, play with her ball, and be around people she knows. Jaida may seem a bit shy at first, but once she knows you, you have a friend for life.

Jaida is super smart and has done great with her training. She gets along with friendly dogs who are her size or bigger.

Jaida has great recall. All I have to do is say "treats," and she comes running back to me! :o)

I don't know why Jaida hasn't been adopted yet--I sure wish someone out there would give her a chance.

1/26/2024 Jaida continues to do great with meeting new people and her training. She really loves being around Loki and playing with him.
 
Jaida loves attention. She's a laid back girl until it's time to play, then her puppiness come out. Jaida's favorite thing to do is to go on walks, I think she would walk all day if I let her.
 
Jaida has this adorable head tilt when I am talking to her. I swear she understands every word that I say to her.
 

1/12/2024 Jaida is doing well. I told you last week that she's on a diet. She's already lost a few pounds. Whenever she finishes her food, she looks back at me as if to say, "Yo, dude. Where's the rest of my food?"

Jaida is getting along well with all of the other dogs in HOPE. . . except for Hazel. Those two will never see eye to eye, and hey, that's okay. 

Jaida loves running the fence with the other dogs, playing fetch (although I have to chase her to get the ball back) and also tug with the rope toys. Most of all, Jaida loves to go on walks and being out and about. 

Jaida needs a great family to love her unconditionally, the way she will love them right back. I love Jaida, but she is more that ready to be paroled!

1/5/2024 Well folks, it's time for me to level with you. You know how I've been reporting that Jaida is doing SO WELL with meeting people she doesn't know and growing accustomed to crowded places? Well....her progress has been helped by the fact that I am constantly giving her treats. So, now, Jaida has packed on some LBs, no thanks to me.

So. . . Miss Jaida is now on a diet. Rocco is giving us great advice because you might recall that Rocco had also packed on some LBs, no thanks to HIS handler! LOL! Well, Rocco is now svelte and fit, so if he can do it, I know Jaida can! So stay tuned for her makeover journey!

The good news is that even though I have not be giving Jaida as many treats, she is still doing so well at meeting new people and adjusting to new situations!

Jaida and the new kid on the (cell) block, Loki, have been running the fence together. When Loki barks at Jaida, it seems to scare her, and she stops running until Loki stops barking, then Jada will start running again. 

 
Jaida gets along with most of the dogs here, but she does prefer to have most of the attention. She'd probably do best as an only dog or with a very laid back dog.

Jaida loves to play fetch, but she makes me run after her to get the ball. I think she feels that if she's running, I should be too! LOL. 

12/29/2023 Jaida continues to do well. She gets along with every dog in the HOPE program! Jaida was curious of the new dog on the block, Loki. They enjoyed running the fence and playing.

Last night, I took Jaida outside to go to the bathroom before bed. I had just given her a bath. It had been raining for awhile. When we got outside, I took her off leash. What did she do but started running and splashing in the mud! And, she wanted me to run after her. It was almost like she knew that running in the mud was not something that should be done right after being bathed, but she didn't seem to care. All I could do was laugh!"

12/22/2023 One of Jaida's favorite things to do is eat--we have that in common. Last night, I was eating some popcorn and a piece dropped to the floor. Jaida got it so fast before I had a chance to pick it up.

Jaida is pretty laid back and would do great in a quieter home. She also likes to go on walks, and she does like to play.
Jaida is looking for a family who would welcome her into their home and love her unconditionally, just like she will love them. There has to be someone out there looking for a quiet, friendly, reserved, senior girl that still has a bit of spunk! 

12/15/2023 Jaida and Chief did some training exercises together this week and Jaida did very well. We worked on her interaction with other dogs and being around crowds of people in the day room. There were loud noises too, and she did greet!

Jaida will pretty much do anything for a treat. If someone calls her name, she will run over to them. If she realizes they don't have a treat, she will look at them and then walk away! She is just like that plant in Little Shop of Horrors--FEED ME! Jaida will do tricks for food!

12/08/2023 This week, Jaida went for a walk around the dayroom and interacted with Chief and the people in the room. This was a huge step for her. She continues to do so much better at interacting with people she doesn't know. She loves being out and about.

I'm so proud of Jaida and how far she's come while in HOPE. All it takes is a little work and patience.
Jaida will do great with a low-key family who will give her the time to adjust to her new surroundings and take it slow in meeting new people. She'll need to transition from being in here to being in a home, and that takes time for any dog.

Is there a patient family out there who will give Jaida the time to adjust? You won't be sorry! She is well worth it!

12/01/2023 Jaida had an exceptionally good week. In fact, I have't seen Jaida this happy, ever!

She no longer shies away from people she doesn't know. Now she goes up to them, with her tail wagging, happy as she can be! So many guys on the block love her. To me, I think that is all she needed to bring out her inner beauty.

Jaida is such a loving dog; the more love she gets the more love she shows.

11/24/2023 Jaida had a good week. She continues to excel with her commands and is getting better and better around people she doesn't know and in crowded places.

Now, when we approach people she doesn't know, she sits and waits for a treat. If they don't have any, she will get up and leave.

One day this week, she walked up to one of the guys on the unit and sat down in from of him, looking at him with her beautiful eyes, just waiting for him to give her a treat. When he told her he didn't have any, she got up and walked away, then looked back at him as if to say, "How dare you not have a treat for me!" He later came back with treats in hand, and she sat pretty for him and took the treats very gently. She was so happy!

Jaida has come such a long way during her time in HOPE. She's a star student in obedience and she is no longer afraid of strangers or crowded places. I am so very proud of her!

11/17/2023 Jaida did AMAZING yesterday! There were a lot of people out in the cell block, and it was very noisy.

Nevertheless, I walked Jaida around the cell block several times and she did great! She paid the people and noise no mind. I just told her that we were going for a walk. She proudly strutted around the block, tail wagging the entire time. I am so proud of my girl! She trusts me and that means the world to me!

11/10/2023 Although Jaida is a laid-back dog, she does love being outside in the hot OR cold. In fact, she has mastered the art of letting me know when she wants to go outside to play.

First, she comes over and looks at me with her adorable eyes. Then, she nudges my hand. Next, she walks toward to door of the cell and then looks back at me, again, with her soulful eyes, as if to say, "Come on, dad, let's go!"

Once we get outside, she LOVES to play tug-- her favorite thing to do. She also likes to play fetch, but once she gets that ball, don't count on getting it back! LOL! I have to chase her to try to get the ball, but she's much faster than me. She'll stop running for a moment, and with the ball in her mouth, turn around and look at me as if to say "Come on, dad, aren't you going to try to catch me!?

Jaida has been in the HOPE program for over a year. It's way past time for her to find her happily ever after. Jaida is a great senior girl who would do so well in a quiet, adult home where she can be a couch potato and play her favorite game of tug, or fetch, on occasion.

11/03/2023 Jaida and I had a great week. We spent a lot of it outside going on walks and training due to the nice weather. Jaida nailed all of her commands.

Jaida really loves going on walks and playing fetch and tug of war. Most of all, Jaida enjoys being around the people she loves. She can be picky with her dog friends, but she is learning to get along with some of the dogs here, which is a huge milestone for her! Makes me proud. She does best with dogs that are about her size.

Just like with Hazel, I am at a loss as to why there have been NO ADOPTION APPLICATIONS on Jaida! She's a very sweet senior girl who would love to spend her retirement in a quiet home relaxing on the sofa and going on leisurely walks. (She can't go to a home with children, however).

10/27/2023 Jaida and I had a great week. We spent a lot of it outside going on walks and training due to the nice weather. Jaida nailed all of her commands. 

Jaida really loves going on walks and playing fetch and tug of war. Most of all, Jaida enjoys being around the people she loves. She can be picky with her dog friends, but she is learning to get along with some of the dogs here, which is a huge milestone for her! Makes me proud. She does best with dogs that are about her size. 

Just like with Hazel, I am at a loss as to why there have been NO ADOPTION APPLICATIONS on Jaida! She's a very sweet senior girl who would love to spend her retirement in a quiet home relaxing on the sofa and going on leisurely walks. (She can't go to a home with children, however).

10/20/2023 Jaida has some new friends that come to visit her often on the cell block. These folks have really helped her get used to meeting and interacting with strangers. When they come to visit, they talk to her, pet her, and give her treats. She can be laying down--sleeping--and when they come to the door of my cell, she will jump up to greet them, tail wagging at top speed.

This is a such a huge milestone for my Jaida!

Jaida and Chief played together on leash this week. That went really well."

10/13/2023  Jaida is a BIG baby and she LOVES attention.  I was doing my school work and Jaida came over to me and put her head on my leg.  She just looked to sad that I thought something had to be wrong!  I checked her over and she seemed okay, so I went back to my homework.  Jaida came back over and this time I did pay her any attention, but she nudged me with her nose as if to say, "um HELLO I'm right HERE!  PET ME!!!!"  Of course I give in and give her all the pets she wants before she walks over to the bed to lay down.  As she does, she sighs and falls asleep.

She's quickly becoming a social butterfly and I love seeing this side of her.

10/06/2023 Jaida continues to do well. She has aced all of her commands. I'm so proud of her.

Jaida loves being outside, especially with this cooler fall weather. I honestly think she would stay outside all day if I would let her. I think she would love a family who would take her on trips like hiking, walking, and camping. She loves the outdoors!

Although Jaida would probably do best as an only dog, she has learned to get along with most of the other dogs here. She continues to do much better when meeting strangers and warming up to them if they offer her treats. Again, I am so proud of her!

Jaida is a sweet, senior girl who would do well in a quiet home without children. Could you be the one to give her the happily ever after that she deserves?

9/29/2023 Hello everyone, its Jaida here!  Don't tell my handler, but I'm going to do this week's journal entry because I had an excellent week and I just want to tell everyone all about it!  Recently, I decided to really get over some of my fears and just enjoy being the best dog that I know I am.  I decided to show everyone just how brave I am by making new people friends, showing off how much I love to play and how I don't care what the weather is doing, if I want to play we are going outside!!!  Even though it rained over the weekend, I made my handler go outside with me and hang out in the rain for as long as possible.  He hated it and kept trying to get me to hurry up and just go potty.  The more he rushed me though, the longer I stayed outside.  If he started to come over to get me, I started sniffing around like I was going to go and then I'd run off with a toy again!  I sure hope my forever family understands how much I LOVE being outside and I hope they love it just as much!

09/22/2023 Every week Jayda surprise me with how many more people she chooses to go up to interact with and then walk away from. Just think a few short weeks ago she was becoming afraid of everyone and everything and now I couldn’t be more proud of how my girl is coming around again!

She’s finally getting back to her favorite things which is getting all the attention from me, and the other handler’s playing, fetch playing tug and trying to find the squeakers and all the other toys.

Jada and I like to call one of the other handlers Starbucks because she will just drive through his cell take a treat and leave. But today he gets a new dog, so Starbucks might be closed unless he starts to make deliveries.

9/15/2023 Jaida had a wonderful week.  First she learned to "speak" on command!  I have been working with her on this for awhile, and this past week, the new handler assisted me, and now she has mastered the "speak" command.  I am so proud of her! Jaida really loves our new dog handler. 

Then Jaida surprised everyone this week with another milestone.   A lieutenant came into the play yard who really likes Jaida.  We all encouraged her by being excited and telling Jaida to go say "hello."  Well, she started wagging her tail and went right up to him!  He had no treats, but she still went right up to him and wanted him to pet her!  Then she leaned in to his leg and was soaking it all up.  Then she started to give him kisses.  We all started cheering and that made Jaida even happier.  She didn't want him to leave.  Now, when she sees this lieutenant she goes right up to him and gets all excited. 

This was a HUGE step for our girl, and we are SO PROUD of her!! 

9/8/2023 Jaida is doing so well with her training and has passed her Level 3 Obedience Test.  I'm so proud of her!

She is doing so much better meeting new people, letting them give her treats and pet her.  She has come a long way in this regard since she first arrived. 

Nevertheless, I still think a quieter home would be best for Jaida.  An adult-only home without a lot of people coming and going would be ideal.  Perhaps a home with someone who is retired or works from home. 

Jaida has been waiting awhile for her happily ever after.  There has to be someone out there willing to give Jaida a chance!  You won't be sorry.  She is  GREAT, laid-back dog!"

9/1/2023 Jaida had a good week.  She continues to become more and more comfortable around people she doesn't know.  She will gently take treats from them.  And, she's even letting them pet her!  This is a huge milestone for my girl!

We had a new handler join HOPE this past week, and Jaida is getting along great with him.  I am so proud of my Jaida girl!

8/18/2023 Jaida has been doing better with visitors! We had some visitors come in to see the dogs and they wanted to meet Jaida, so I brought her out of the cell and even though she was a little nervous, she walked up to them, took some treats from a few of them and didn’t try to run back to the cell. She’s getting better with more and more people on the block, even taking treats from most of them too!

Jaida also recently passed her Level 3 Obedience with me and I couldn’t be more proud! I knew she could do it, and everyone was cheering us it, its just hard for her with everyone around. She really made me work for it, but after it was done she took a celebratory lap around the yard making sure everyone knew she passed!

One more quick Jaida story…we have this routine when I clean my cell, I tell Jaida crate and she will go in every time. This time, however, she saw me getting all the cleaning stuff ready and she got up on her own, walked over to her crate and laid down inside. I didn’t even have to ask!

8/11/2023 Jaida had another excellent week!

She had a lot of ups and downs with training this week, but we kept at it! I’ve also noticed she is getting better and better with groups of people too. She’s actually going up to people and asking for attention and treats (more so the treats)!

Jaida even met the new handler on the block and they’re getting along pretty well too. Couldn’t be more proud of my girl!

8/4/2023 Jaida continues to progress, as reported by her handler:

"Jaida is doing so well with her training and has passed her Level 3 Obedience Test. I'm so proud of her!

She is doing so much better meeting new people, letting them give her treats and pet her. She has come a long way in this regard since she first arrived.

Nevertheless, I still think a quieter home would be best for Jaida. An adult-only home without a lot of people coming and going would be ideal. Perhaps a home with someone who is retired or works from home.

Jaida has been waiting awhile for her happily ever after. There has to be someone out there willing to give Jaida a chance! You won't be sorry. She is GREAT, laid-back dog!"

7/28/2023 Here's the most recent update from Jaida's handler:

Jaida had a good week. She continues to become more and more comfortable around people she doesn't know. She will gently take treats from them. And, she's even letting them pet her! This is a huge milestone for my girl!

We had a new handler join HOPE this past week, and Jaida is getting along great with him. I am so proud of my Jaida girl!"

7/21/2023 Here's a very exciting update from Jaida's handler:

Jaida did very well this week on several things. First, we had some outside visitors on the cell block, and Jaida was able to greet them and accept treats from them. She has also been much better interacting with the guys on the cell block and taking treats from them too. This is a HUGE milestone for Jaida who tends to be tentative with people she doesn't know.

In addition, Jaida passed her Level 3 Obedience Training. I am SO PROUD of her!!! She not only knows all of her commands, but she can do them for longer duration AND with distractions! How wonderful for my girl!

The other thing that happened this week shows how smart Jaida is and how quickly she picks up routines. Whenever I clean my cell, I tell Jaida to go into her crate, and she lays down and waits there until I am done cleaning. This week, Jaida saw me get out the cleaning supplies and went in to her crate and laid down without me saying a word! What a smart girl!"

Jaida would love to find a forever home where she is loved for who she is-- a wonderful girl who would prefer a quieter life, without a lot of hustle and bustle. Anyone out there looking for a middle-aged sweetheart (and smart to boot) to hang out with?

7/14/2023 Jaida had a good week. She has mastered all of her commands. She got Gold Stars this week for being more comfortable around a crowd of people.

In addition to practicing her training, Jaida played a lot with Chief and Rocco. They all did well together. Rocco loves to "play-bow." It's very cute to watch.

Jaida tested for her Level 3 obedience this week. She did everything great until the last part, and then she looked at me as if to say "Nope, I've had enough. Not doing any more." So, we will continue working and try again. I'm confident that next time she'll pass.

Jaida has really come a long way in HOPE. I'm very proud of her!

7/7/2023 From Jaida's handler: 

"This week was good for my sweet Jaida. She is doing well with her training and listening to all of her commands. 

I've learned that Jaida has a sense of humor. She always makes me laugh. You just have to pay attention to the things she does. She goes bonkers for treats. It's so fun to watch her get so excited!

She also gets along with all of the other dogs here, except for Hazel. But, on a good note, she and Hazel now tolerate each other, but I don't think they'll ever be besties. But as humans, we're not best friends with every human we meet, are we? So how can we expect a dog to be best friends with EVERY dog out there? 

Chief, Bella, Luke, and Jaida get along so well. They love to "chill" together, especially in this heat--LOL-I love to watch them "chill!" 

6/302023 Jaida's handler had this most recent update:

"Jaida had a good week. Her training is going well. 

We had a special moment this week. We were sitting on the bed and Jaida was looking at me. I asked her what was wrong and she tilted her head, still looking at me. Then I asked her if she wanted to hear my heartbeat. I put her head on my chest and she laid there, intently listening to my heart. It was wonderful to have this special time with Jaida."

6/23/2023 From Jaida's handler:

"Jaida and I had a good week. I continue to work on her apprehensiveness around loud noises, and new people and surroundings. 

One day this week, we were training in the recreation area and people were making a lot of noise. Jaida pulled me back to my cell because she was afraid. When we got there, I sat on my bed with a sad look on my face, not knowing what to do next. Jaida came over to me, put her head on my leg, looked up at me, and then pulled me back out of the cell as if to say "I'd like to try this again." So we did, and she did great! 

Jaida is really trying to overcome her fears. I can tell she really wants to, but sometimes, she just can't. So we rest, then try again. That approach seems to really help her. . . slow and steady wins the race!"

6/16/2023 Jaida's handler gave us this heartfelt update about his girl: 

"Last week was a tough one for me. I've really been trying to work with Jaida to help her overcome her fears. Jaida is a GREAT dog! She's very loving and playful--she especially loves playing with ropes, balls, and squeaky toys. Stuffed toys don't stand a chance around her! 

But, Jaida is scared of loud noises, and crowds of people would make her shut down and want to run back to my cell. This made me feel awful because I didn't know how to help her. But some of the more experienced handlers have been helping me and giving me suggestions on how to help Jaida. I have tried the different things they suggested, and it has been helping her! With more work and consistency, I know she can overcome her fears. 

I am so grateful for the help from the other handlers. We work as a team here--our goal is to always do what is best for the dogs in our care. I felt like I was letting Jaida down, but with the help of the other handlers, I no longer feel that way. I know Jaida and I can overcome this together."

6/9/2023 Jaida certainly loves treats! Here's what her handler had to say in his latest journal entry:

"Jaida had a good week. I have been helping her overcome her apprehensiveness of the phones near the entrance to the cell block. There are several phones there where inmates can make phone calls. If we come from outside into the cell block and there are a lot of guys on the phones, Jaida seems to be apprehensive. So, when we come in from outside, I ask her to sit, and then I tell her that the people on the phones are not going to hurt her. This seems to be really helping her. 

Jaida has become fond of one of the inmates who gives her treats. When we come in from outside, Jaida will stop outside his cell to see if he is there to give her a treat. If he's there, she gets a treat, but she runs back to my cell to eat it. It's so cute! 

Jaida got GOLD STARS this week for all of her commands!"

6/02/2023 Jaida is another WONDERFUL dog that is ready to be paroled. Here's her handler's latest update:

"This week was good for Jaida. She and Chief played off lash with muzzles on, and it went well. Jaida knows all of her commands. She is smart, funny, and loving.

Jaida is a special dog. She loves people, after you gain her trust. But once she trusts you, you will have a friend for life. Jaida was abused in her prior life--someone wrapped duct tape around her nose. In fact, the scars are still visible. So, you can understand why people need to gain her trust when meeting her. Giving her treats is a great way to do this. Jaida would do great in a home with teen-aged kids in a quieter home, since loud noises scare her.

Jaida is more than ready to be adopted. Is there someone out there who can give Jaida her much-deserved happily ever after?"

5/26/2023  This week was a good one for Jaida. Jaida and Chief played in the play yard on leash, and Jaida also ran the fence with Bella–one on each side of the fence.

Jaida got Gold Stars this week for all of her commands. She also got weighed this week. She’s a whopping 85 pounds. Boy she’s eating well!

What would be the perfect home for Jaida? I think it would be a quieter home, one with just adults. Loud sounds and crowds of people can spook her. She’d also love a fenced-in yard.

I’ve been working with Jaida on meeting new people. I give the person a treat. I tell Jaida to “sit.” Once she sits, I tell her “it’s okay, go say hi.” Then the new person gives her the treat. Then I pet her while I’m telling her it’s okay.

Jaida is definitely ready for her forever home! Could it be with you?

5/19/2023  Jaida is doing well with all of her commands. Jaida loves to be outside, She likes to watch through the fence as Chief and Bella play. Chief’s handler will bring him over to the yard where Jaida is, both dogs on leash, and they are able to play together. Chief will jump on Jaida’s back, and Jaida will dip him–they’ll do this until they both get tired.

Because of the nice weather we’ve been having, I had my sunglasses on while we were outside. Jaida wasn’t sure what to make them, and was tilting her head when looking at me. She looked like she was posing for a magazine cover.

4/28/2023 This week was a good week for Jaida. She did very good walking around with two of the other dogs. We took her, Chief, and Bella for a walk around the yard. After a few sniffs, Jaida and Chief decided to talk side by side. Jaida wasn’t such a huge fan of Bella, so they kept some distance, but they all settled into comfortable routine and hung out together.

Its clear that Jaida still misses her life on the outside, as she treats the other handler cells as her own personal drive-thrus and brings back all her treats for her handler to clean up. She also has this habit of playing catch me if you can, because when she’s out in the yard and its time to go in, if she sees her handler walking towards her with a leash, she will wait until her handler gets close and then she takes off running again. She’ll do this for a few minutes before finally deciding she’s ready to come in.

She’s just a girl who loves her freedom!

4/21/2023 We’ve been working with Jaida on her fear of loud noises, which is hard to do in the prison environment, but this week we’ve seemed to have a breakthrough! We started taking Jaida around the noise that freaked her out and we would sit and talk with her, offer her treats, and even play with her around the noise. She’s learning that she doesn’t have to be scared and she can trust us to keep her safe. In fact, she gets happy and confident to meet new people too.

We’re working on building her friendships with Rocco (her boo), Chief and Bella too. Every day its a step in the right direction! After hanging out with her friends outside, when we come back in she will stop at another handler’s cell, walking right in if there’s no dog and then sit in front of their treat jar. She will wait patiently and then do a trick or two for a treat. As soon as she gets her treat, she will carry it back to her cell and eat her treat. She’s got 7 different “drive-thrus” to choose from, and she will pick a different one each time she leaves her cell.

04/14/2023 Jaida is socializing with the other handlers very well, as well as with people in general. For the past two days Jaida and Bella have been running up and down the fence line together. The more time she spends with Bella, the more comfortable she seems to be getting with her. Socializing her around other dogs involves having Jaida just hanging out and enjoying spending time with other dogs from a distance.

Its been 7 weeks since she joined the HOPE Program, and she’s doing better and better with the others dogs each week. While we know Jaida will never want to live with another dog, nor would she enjoy dog parks, she is a dog that would love to have her own people that would take her on walks and hikes, even if it means running into the occasional dog. Given a little distance, Jaida will be happy to ignore them and continue on her way.

As well as being the only love of your life, Jaida would really thrive in a quieter home, no city living for this girl. Loud noises really make her uncomfortable, and it can take some time for her to get her confidence back. She would also prefer a home that doesn’t have a lot of comings and goings, she definitely enjoys her quite time in between exercise, training, and walks.

4/07/2023 Jade is a precious green gemstone, and our Jaida is just as beautiful and precious 

This week didn’t start out too great for Jaida. She started being a little nervous, like she was her first week here. So we’ve been spending more time with familiar people and rebuilding her confidence inside.

Outside, she’s much better! She enjoys doing this “creep stalk” to Rocco when he’s in the second play yard. Jaida will enter the first yard, see Rocco, then ever so slowly creep her way over to the fence line. Once at the fence, she explodes, jumping around and running the fence! She thinks she’s just so sneaky and if she moves slowly enough, Rocco won’t see her. It’s truly the funniest thing I’ve seen in quite a while!

3/31/2023 Jaida and I did a lot of training this week. Jaida listens well and understands all of her commands. She’s a great dog that will be a wonderful addition to a very lucky family.

Jaida loves her toys and playing fetch with a ball that squeaks. We played a lot like that outside this past week.

Jaida is a very loving dog. She loves her people and back rubs–hey, who doesn’t?!

We’re looking forward to the warmer weather and being outside more. Until next week. . .

3/24/2023 Jaida’s Handler let her write her own journal entry again this week.

Hi world, its me, Jaida! I just want everyone to know that I had a TERRIFIC WEEK! I went out to get my nails trimmed with the amazing Michelle at Compassionate Groom and Spa, got to run around off leash in a new fenced area, and I swear, I walked on water (okay, it was a pool cover, but close enough)! When I got back to prison, my Handler was outside waiting with hugs and kisses and I ran to him as fast as lightning!

I also got over my fear of the stairs here. These things are metal and you can SEE THROUGH THEM! They are super scary but I trust my Handler and with his help, I finally conquered my fear! Now I’m completely unstoppable around here! My Handler tells me all the time how awesome I am, that I’m such a sweetheart, and he really helps me face the things that make me nervous. This place might be a little scarier if it wasn’t for him. He’s really helped me to adjust here. I think my favorite thing about this place is everyone has treats and they call give really good back scratches and massages. Its like your own personal spa.

Alright, I have to go stare at some dogs just to see what happens! See ya next week!

3/17/2023 Jaida and her handler continue to build their bond, and it sounds like Jaida is making him work for it too!

Hello world it’s me Jaida! This week has been pretty cool for me! My handler is funny, I love being around him,!he makes me happy and I feel safe with him. As long as he is there, I feel like I can do anything from exploring new areas and even meeting new people! I made friends with Rocco and Finnegan and we all run along the fence line together chasing each other. It’s super fun, but I would like everyone to know that I am the fastest! If one of the boys happens to beat me, it’s because I let him win 

This week another new dog joined us. His name is Chief. The first time I saw him I had to let him know this was my block (well, when Hazel isn’t around) and I told him he looked like a wonderful snack! But then I we started running together and I guess he’s okay for now.

The girls here are so mean towards me, we all just stare and bark at each other. The handlers tell me that once we get to know each other, they’ll quit staring. They said we don’t have to be friends but we have to learn to be around each other. The girls and I like to get into staring contests and then our handlers freak out when we start barking at each other. It’s super fun . I keep trying to tell my handler that I don’t care, I like the boys better, we get along so good!

Anyway, back to what I’m learning! My handler and I we go for walks daily. He’s starting to introduce me to new places and new people. Most of the people I meet have food for me, so that’s pretty cool. I also taught my handler to play fetch and chase! I fetch the ball and he chases me around to get it back. It’s my favorite game so far!

If you are interested in making Jaida a part of your family, she has a few requirements: no kids under 10, and no other furry pets in the home.

3/10/2023 This week was a good week. Jaida has overcome some of her fears and is more comfortable being out and about. When I first got her she was very nervous being in the new environment. Who could blame her? But as the week went on, I could see her open up and tell she is a great dog.

Jaida has already made some dogs friends here. Rocco is her favorite. She also likes Finn. She’ll run outside in the play yard with them, running back and forth along the fence.

Jaida loves attention, and I think she is already spoiled. She won’t eat unless I sit with her. When I leave my cell, she will stop whatever she is doing, go to the door, and sit and wait there until I return.

Yesterday, we had a power outage for a few hours. I was laying on my bed and Jaida was laying on the floor next to me. When the power suddenly came back on, I think it scared Jaida, and she jumped on the bed with me. It was very cute.

Jaida’s training is going well. She already knows basic commands like come, sit, stay, and wait. I’m working with her to teach her more.

Jaida loves people. She is warming up to everyone here, especially when they have treats to give her. We all treat her like she’s a princess–Princess Jaida!

3/3/2023 Potter, now known as Jaida

On February 24, 2023 I got my new dog, her name is Potter. She’s a 7ish year old rottie mix. We spent the first few days just getting to know each other and teach her her new name, Jaida. She needed a new name that really showed she’s a beautiful and smart girl! I quickly learned that one of her favorite things with me is getting scratches from her hips to her tail! She’ll even back up against you, as if to say, “more please!”

I also learned that when I ask, “Do you want to go outside?” She will tilt her head to the side and starts wagging her tail super fast.

Outside she likes to play with the rope toys, but so far the ball seems to be her favorite. She also really liked running up and down the fence with Rocco and Finnegan. She didn’t know who she liked more!

Her first couple days here she was nervous around all the new people, but a few treats and strangers started to become friends. She’s now happily greeting just about everyone! Jaida is also starting to cuddle up with me too. Everywhere I go she wants to be there too. She is such a cool dog.

Jaida is looking for a home without other pets, as she can be choosy when it comes to sharing personal space. She’d also really like a home with no babies or toddlers, she prefers older, calmer kids. You can apply to adopt Jaida here: