Beyond the Badge, Community Involvement, Dog News, Rehabilitation

CMF hosts annual Paws for Life banquet

April 7, 2026

The gymnasium at California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville was transformed for the annual banquet honoring Paws for Life K-9 Rescue.

The Feb. 20 event served as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of the human-animal bond, bringing together program participants, their families, and CMF leadership.

The banquet was attended by Paws for Life CEO Alex Tonner, alongside key staff members Rita Blackwell, Marcus McJimpson, and Jaime Goodrich.

The afternoon featured a series of speeches from program participants, Paws for Life leadership, and Warden Sircoya Williams.

Incarcerated people speak to others during the CMF Paws for Life banquet.

These speakers highlighted the program’s multi-faceted benefits:

providing dogs with a second chance at life
offering incarcerated persons vocational skills and emotional growth
and enhancing the overall environment for facility staff.

CMF incarcerated dog trainer with Paws for Life at the banquet.

Since its inception at CMF, the Paws for Life program has served as a beacon of rehabilitation and hope. To date, the program has successfully facilitated the adoption of 273 dogs into forever homes. Currently, the initiative supports 27 enrolled incarcerated persons who are dedicated to training eight dogs currently in the program. The trainers are preparing the dogs for life beyond the facility walls, in addition to assisting in their own rehabilitation.

Paws for Life K-9 Rescue pulls at-risk dogs from high-kill shelters and places them with incarcerated trainers in state prisons. Through this partnership, dogs receive the training they need to become family pets or service animals. Meanwhile, handlers gain valuable life skills.

Story by Nicole Cagnina-Holwagner, analyst, Community Resources Manager’s Office
Submitted by Lt. A. Brown

Follow CDCR on YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter).

Learn more about CDCR’s K-9 programs.