Division of Adult Parole Operations, Inside CDCR Video, Rehabilitation

Rescued wolves help female reentry effort

August 23, 2024

Rescued wolves are shaking their negative stereotype while helping participants do the same in CDCR’s Female Community Reentry Program.

The participants credit Parole Agent II Specialist Jenness Harris for connecting them with the wolf rescue.

“(She) is always looking for innovative and therapeutic ways to empower us and help us heal,” said one of the participants.

The women are part of the Female Community Reentry Program in Los Angeles.

Watch the video (story continues below):

Agent Harris discovered this unique opportunity to connect participants with an educational sanctuary and wilderness retreat center in Palmdale. The organization teaches at-risk groups life skills through connecting with rescued wolves.

A parole agent teaches a Wolf Connection class to reentry participants. — Parole Agent II Specialist J. Harris teaches a 12-week class by partnering with Wolf Connection.

Wolf Heart Ranch, nestled in the Angeles National Forest, is home to Wolf Connection, which rescues neglected or abused wolf dogs and uses them to help rehabilitate people.

After learning about the program, Harris reached out to Wolf Connection, asking if there were any opportunities for the reentry participants to tour the sanctuary.

Instead, the organization trained Agent Harris to become what they refer to as a pack leader, equipping her with the foundation to teach a 12-week class to the reentry participants.

The classes culminated with a graduation held at the sanctuary, representing the first cohort of 30 participants from the reentry program. The graduation included a three-hour tour where the participants met many of the wolves she incorporated into their lessons.

“We’ve learned something from every single wolf,” said a participant graduate.

The wolves’ stories help participants develop skills including self-acceptance, resilience, empathy, teamwork and environmental awareness.

“The principles they teach you are everyday life lessons that we don’t necessarily reflect on, like giving 150 percent when you’re trying to accomplish something,” said Harris. “All the wolves here have come from traumatic experiences. They’ve been rescued and now they have a better life. On the flip side, my participants come from traumatic situations, and they now, with some work, can improve and have a better life.”

More about the Wolf Connection

According to the organization, they “only rescue and accept wolf dogs, meaning dogs with various degrees of wolf content.” Learn more about them on their website.

Video by Pedro Calderón Michel, acting press secretary
Story by Mary Xjimenez, public information officer II