Friends For Folks

Hope,
trained one dog at a time.

Since 1990 we have trained hundreds of dogs and changed thousands of lives on both sides of the bars.

What We Do

Friends for Folks transforms lives on both ends of the leash. Our program gives incarcerated individuals purpose, connection, and responsibility. They learn valuable skills while shelter dogs gain the confidence and training they need to find loving homes.

We have also placed trained dogs within the greater community who help in a wide range of environments, including veterans with PTSD, kids testifying in court, and at 911 dispatch call centers. To date, the recidivism rate of our trainers after release remians at 0%. We call this a win-win-win. The dog wins, the inmate wins, and the community wins.

KTUL News Feature

This piece, filmed for Tulsa’s KTUL news station, highlights the work being done by Friends for Folks at Lexington Correctional Center back in 2010.

Dogs of Lexington

Emmy-nominated 2013 documentary about the Friends for Folks inmate dog-training program at Oklahoma’s Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. The film’s success helped expand the program, premiered at the deadCenter Film Festival, and has aired on OETA.

Bassett Tails

Documentary produced by Oklahoma City Community College about the Friends for Folks inmate dog-training program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility. The follow-up to The Dogs of Lexington, it originally aired on OETA on July 30, 2015.

Our Inspiration

Sister Pauline Quinn founded the first prison dog training program in the United States in 1981 at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor. Her Prison Pet Partnership Program became the blueprint for more than 290 similar programs nationwide and directly inspired Friends for Folks.

Sister Pauline Quinn, founder of the Prison Pet Partnership Program, spoke at St. Joseph’s Church in Norman in 2014 with her therapy dog Pax while visiting the Friends for Folks program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.

Community Feedback

“I just got my goldendoodle back from the Lexington program. I am beyond pleased with her training! She is so well behaved and I am amazed at the difference in her! My home is now a peaceful place!”

Elizabeth T

Hope,trained one dog at a time.