PATRICK: I mean it’s a good experience to be able to bond with the animals.
LAWRENCE: Takes my mind off of being in jail.
LAWRENCE: I was pretty, I was pretty stoked when I found out I got the job. I know I am
a hard worker. I like animals.
LAWRENCE: And I like to be outside rather than upstairs in jail.
JEANNE SELANDER: It actually started by accident. There were ducks crossing the road between
the jail and the nearby golf course, getting hit by cars. So they had this fenced area
underneath the jail and decided to round up the ducks, put them on the fenced property
and have the landscaper care for them and the rumour started going up the quays that we
were taking in animals and animals just started getting dropped off and it kind of grew from
there and I actually have been here almost 12 years now. When I arrived at the farm, there
were probably about 20 animals and over the years having
taken in more animals we have approximately 150 now.
LAWRENCE: This is Tatiana. She is a ferret – female ferret. She is cold right now. I like
the ferrets. I let him out, run around, every now and then.
LAWRENCE: They are all cool. They all got their own characteristics.
JEANNE SELANDER: The biggest apprehension I had was working with inmates because I had
never even been to a jail before. So I was told that they would train me and teach me
how to work with the inmates. First, I was definitely a little intimidated but I do have
a radio and we have security cameras watching me at all times.
JEANNE SELANDER: So there are about 550 people in our jail upstairs and and only four get
to work on the farms. So it’s a volunteer position. They are not required or forced
to work on the farm and that’s because we have animals here and if they don’t love
the animals and working with the animals, they are not going to do well.
JEANNE SELANDER: Most other jobs in the jail, if you request to work and they put you in
laundry, you don’t get to decide. I don’t like doing laundry. You do laundry.
PATRICK: Everybody wants to come down here but you know, a lot of the people want to
come down just to be outside or just you know, take advantage of the benefits but there is
a lot of work involved, so.
PATRICK: I grew up with snakes. I am a big fan of all the reptiles. There is one turtle over
there that I am really kind of connected with. His back legs are hurt. So he has got to be
separated from all the other ones. But I take him out all time and let him do his thing.
JEANNE SELANDER: I have had a couple of close calls or bad experiences with inmates. A lot of
times, they just get mad at each other and start fighting. So I called for backup and
the deputies come down and for the most part, having been here 12 years, I get really good inmates.
LAWRENCE: Animals are therapeutic you know, they are like just nice to get away from all
the drama upstairs and stress, come down here, just take care of the animals and yeah, I
have a day off Friday but I don’t take it. It’s just, I just come down anyway, you know.
PATRICK: Growing up with animals my whole life so that’s obviously one of the biggest
reasons and, you know, just being able to be outside and get out of that jail mentality.
PATRICK: This is Angus. He is a resident 2000 pound bull.
PATRICK: How long has he been here, roomie?
MAN: 10 years.
PATRICK: 10 years. So they got him when he was a baby.
PATRICK: You would never think that there is a 2000 pound bull underneath the jail,
the Tegu, the 10 foot Burmese python you know, there is just some stuff that you're kind of like, ‘Wow’, you know.
JEANNE SELANDER: When an inmate finally comes upon their release date, I have mixed feelings.
First of all, if they are a really good worker, I hate to see them go. However, I build a
relationship with them and I really wish the best for them when they get on the outside.
PATRICK: I have always worked my whole life. So being able to stay active, I mean. I wasn’t
living the best lifestyle out there. So it's kind of bringing me back into my element you
know, helping me to be a better person. You know, I am trying to change.
LAWRENCE: I am learning how to care for the animals better so never know. Might pick up
something later in life; caring for animals.
JEANNE SELANDER: The reason I have been here so long is because I am challenged every day.
And most jobs, I get bored really easily. If there is no challenge and I have accomplished
what I set out to do. I am ready to move on but here every day is a new challenge. I think
this program is great for the inmates. I think the love that the animals give them, the unconditional
love, some of them have never experienced that before and the animals don’t judge.
They don’t care that you are wearing an orange outfit. They just know you are the
person that loves them and cares for them. So I think the inmates and the animals benefit from the love.