Stray in Leslie County becomes life-changing service dog through special training program

LESLIE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — A stray dog who arrived at the Leslie County Animal Shelter at just nine weeks old in 2024 was taken home as a service dog on Tuesday. Shelter staff said it was all made possible by an organization known as Pawsibilities Unleashed and its State Prison Canine Program.

“When she went to the Prison Training program we were told she might be a service dog,” Leslie County Animal Shelter wrote on social media Saturday afternoon. “If not she would be adopted & trained with Good citizenship dog training.”

On Tuesday, Pawsibilities Unleashed posted on Facebook that after many weeks of training and temperament tests, the once unwanted stray dog went home with a little girl to be her service dog.

“From shelter rescue at 9 weeks, (Code Red) to Pawsibilities Unleashed for many weeks of training and temperament testing, this little lady just went home as a service dog,” Pawsibilities Unleashed team members said, “Changing the lives of the girl she is helping, her life, and the lives of our team members who trained her through our State Prison Canine Program.”

On Saturday, Leslie County Animal Shelter staff wrote that nothing made the team happier than “to find out that this dog that came in as a stray that no one wanted to a service dog that her person wants & needs.”

To find out more about Pawsibilities Unleashed and the State Prison Canine Program, visit the organization’s website.