Cell Dogs

Cell Dogs Cell Dogs provides second chances for shelter dogs and incarcerated individuals. Each partner plays in important role in the success of our program.

Cells Dogs is making a difference in our local community by rescuing dogs, teaching marketable skills to those incarcerated and changing the lives of those individuals whom adopt our dogs giving them a loving home. Our Cell Dog training programs are community collaborative efforts between ourselves, local shelter and rescue groups and the participating correctional facility for both adults and ju

venile offenders. The Basic Obedience Training Program is a specialized opportunity which includes an intensive 4 week Lecture/Demo program for the incarcerated program participants, followed by an 8 to 10 week hands on training with the selected shelter dogs. Once the dogs have completed half of their prescribed training curriculum, we identify those who appear ideally suited for an Advanced Training Program. The dogs not selected for advanced training, celebrate their graduation by moving to their fur-ever homes with our pre-selected adopters. Those dogs identified for advanced training, begin a customized program to become service dogs for children afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder and for those with mobility disabilities. This program may take anywhere from 4 to 6 months with one of our contract trainers. Once the dog's training is complete, a 2 week team training is required for placement. For additional details and applicaion information please visit our website: www.celldogs.org

In case any of our former trainers are interested.
23/01/2025

In case any of our former trainers are interested.

Alert!

We’re creating a documentary focused on higher education in prison—and we want you to be a part of it!

If you’re a formerly incarcerated individual (age 18+) who has accessed some form of higher education during incarceration, then we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for three people who want to:
💚 Talk to inspiring folks who participated in higher ed programs during their time in prison
💚 Learn about how they navigated their paths during and after incarceration

Even if you didn’t complete or graduate from your postsecondary program in prison, that’s OK—if you’d like to contribute to a storytelling initiative that’s reshaping the narrative around higher education opportunities in prison, then this experience is for you.

Apply now! https://rtn.is/higher-ed-in-prison

Applications are open now and will close on February 2nd at 11:59 PM (PST).

If you know someone who might be a good fit, please feel free to share this with them. Cheers!

Thank you for the recognition! ❤🐾
21/01/2025

Thank you for the recognition! ❤🐾

Youth at Juvenile Hall are transforming lives—both their own and rescue dogs’—through the Cell Dogs program. 🐾 By building trust and helping dogs heal, participants learn empathy, responsibility, and the power of second chances. is just one example of how create innovative opportunities to uplift lives. Great work, County of Orange! 👏

➡️ https://www.cpoc.org/article/oc-juvenile-hall-youth-help-rescue-dogs-overcome-trauma-train-them-forever-homes

We were invited to present Cell Dogs’ mission at Huntington Beach Surf City Rotary. Thank you so much for listening, and...
16/01/2025

We were invited to present Cell Dogs’ mission at Huntington Beach Surf City Rotary. Thank you so much for listening, and for your support!

What a warm welcome, and an efficient group of volunteers working locally, regionally and internationally, putting service above self! Inspiring! 🐾✨

The year is off to a great start!We’re excited to share that we recently received a $1,000 grant from our local Walmart ...
11/01/2025

The year is off to a great start!

We’re excited to share that we recently received a $1,000 grant from our local Walmart Supercenter on Mcfadden Ave. to support Cell Dogs training programs in our community.

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Probation

Buddy (a Cell Dogs service dog program graduate) exhausted after the holidays :)! Taking a well deserved beauty rest her...
08/01/2025

Buddy (a Cell Dogs service dog program graduate) exhausted after the holidays :)! Taking a well deserved beauty rest here.

We are energized, however! We will soon be reporting on the start of our new training cycle, and working on plans for 2025.

We hope you all had a great holiday season and we wish everyone a happy new year! ✨🐾💕

Cell Dogs graduate Freya (formerly known as Penny) says be sure to find time to relax. 💕🐾 Smart advice!
27/12/2024

Cell Dogs graduate Freya (formerly known as Penny) says be sure to find time to relax. 💕🐾 Smart advice!

📣 Cell Dogs is getting noticed - this time by the LA Times' Daily Pilot. Perfect Christmas Eve reading.Featuring an int...
24/12/2024

📣 Cell Dogs is getting noticed - this time by the LA Times' Daily Pilot. Perfect Christmas Eve reading.

Featuring an introduction to Mr Vo, our newest trainer-in-training. Welcome on board! 🐾

Cell Dogs teaches incarcerated people how to train dogs by pairing them with pets rescued from shelters.

We are finishing the year up on a high note! All trainers received certificates from Santiago Canyon College for complet...
23/12/2024

We are finishing the year up on a high note! All trainers received certificates from Santiago Canyon College for completing the Cell Dogs curriculum last week.

Graduation is always an emotional affair, and this time around, we had a high number of people attending, including a reporter from the LA Times, and representatives of the court and many officers from OC Probations. Our trainers and the dogs did a great job! We are very proud.

Two dogs, Penny and Ziggy, went off home - lucky for the pups, their adopters are a Mother-Daughter duo, so their play dates will continue on.

Snickers, the chocolate lab, will advance to our service dog training program. Good luck!

Happy Holidays Everyone!🐾💕✨

(All photos Courtesy of OCP)

We are so thankful to the staff at our local Petco! We thanked them with some Christmas cheer, in cookie form. Janette m...
21/12/2024

We are so thankful to the staff at our local Petco! We thanked them with some Christmas cheer, in cookie form. Janette makes a perfect Santa!

We know 💜 💜 awards the lifesaving grants that we are honored to receive but we also know that the donations are collected in the stores.

Thank you for supporting our service dog program!

More good news as we wrap up this busy year:💜National nonprofit Petco Love invested $7,500 in Cell Dogs as part of its H...
18/12/2024

More good news as we wrap up this busy year:

💜National nonprofit Petco Love invested $7,500 in Cell Dogs as part of its Helping Heroes Initiative.💜

These grants empower organizations like ours to transform shelter pets into heroes who assist veterans and first responders.

Since 2009, Petco Love’s investment of more than $18 million bolsters efforts to train and support pets who dedicate their lives to saving and improving the lives of others.

We are honored and proud to be part of this important work for many years now! 💜🐾

✨THANK YOU! ✨Thank you everyone for making our (once a year) fundraising event a success. As a small organization, we ar...
11/12/2024

✨THANK YOU! ✨Thank you everyone for making our (once a year) fundraising event a success. As a small organization, we are busy running programs, so we truly appreciate that you support us during this annual event. This makes positive plans for the coming year(s) possible.

Looking ahead, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season, another year of success, joy and good health! 🩷🐾

Before we all slow down for a short break, we have a group of 7 trainers and 3 pups graduating. What a way to wrap up 2024! Watch this space for pictures coming soon.

Thank you everyone for your donations, shares and kind messages!! 🩷🐾 Your support means everything to us. We are almost ...
11/12/2024

Thank you everyone for your donations, shares and kind messages!! 🩷🐾 Your support means everything to us. We are almost there!!

UPDATE! We are at 66% of our goal. As the workday is coming to an end, please consider supporting us with a donation tod...
11/12/2024

UPDATE! We are at 66% of our goal. As the workday is coming to an end, please consider supporting us with a donation today. 🐾💕

10/12/2024
It's our Giving Day today! Please donate via our website: https://www.celldogs.org/make-a-donation/ or the DONATE button...
10/12/2024

It's our Giving Day today!

Please donate via our website: https://www.celldogs.org/make-a-donation/ or the DONATE button below.

Today, we need your help raising $50,000 to transform lives by providing second chances for shelter dogs and incarcerated individuals.

Your donation will be doubled, as major donors have pledged to match, dollar for dollar, every donation up to $50,000!

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Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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+17147476782

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Our Story

In 2007, we launched one of the nation’s first juvenile ward programs at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility in Chino, CA. The program at OC Probation started in 2009 and was the first in Orange County, CA involving juvenile ward trainers. Our program at James A. Musick Facility has been active since 2013.

Our program dogs are rescues from local animal shelters. Once a group of dogs is selected, we bring them into incarceration facilities where designated trainers care for the dogs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before teaming up with one of the dogs, program trainers first participate in four weeks of lecture classes. Then, over the next 8–10 weeks, they teach their canine students good manners and basic obedience. Upon successful completion, each dog is adopted into a loving home.

During classes, some dogs exhibit special aptitude, and these canines receive advanced training afterwards in order to become working service dogs.

We significantly impact local communities in a number of ways. Since its inception, Cell Dogs has successfully rescued, trained, and placed over 300 dogs into new homes. The program goes much further than simply reducing euthanasia rates and saving costs at local shelters: it transforms all program participants, providing them (and the dogs they train) with a valuable second chance at leading productive and responsible lives. Dog adoption is also made easier as people looking for a shelter pup are not always equipped to handle an untrained or unsocialized animal. For additional details and application information please visit our website: www.celldogs.org