Four paws. A soft meow. Games of peek-a-boo and hide and seek. Inside Hawaii’s only women’s prison, some unusual “inmates” are serving a short stint behind bars.
Under the Transforming Animals’ and Incarcerated Individuals’ Lives (TAIIL) program, orphaned kittens are healing and growing inside the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC), as are the inmates who foster them.
TAIIL program foster mom Sherri bonds with her foster kittens.
Filling the foster gap
During peak kitten season, up to 100 kittens sit in the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) every day, waiting for foster placement. They’re often not ready for adoption because they need round-the-clock care, whether that’s bottle-feeding every few hours or medical treatment. But staying at HHS isn’t the solution either.
“Shelter environments by nature are incredibly stressful for an animal,” explains Adrianne Daniels, HHS foster care manager. “They need an opportunity to truly decompress and heal, so it’s essential to place these kittens in a foster home.”
Of course, WCCC isn’t a typical foster home. But it’s still a space where these kittens can play, grow stronger, and receive nurturing care and attention.
TAIIL Program foster mom Paulette greets foster kittens.
“The moment these kittens enter WCCC, their stress level drops,” says Daniels. “They’re snuggled and given treats, and they return to HHS happy, healthy, and ready for their new homes.”
A second chance
There’s a noticeable change in the humans taking care of the animals, too. Officials with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) say the inmates learn to properly feed their feline friends and safely administer medications. They also practice empathy, kindness, and responsibility – all skills that help prepare them for reintegration once they’re released.
Sherri with HHS foster care manager, Adrianne Daniels, helping kittens get settled for two-week stay.
One of the foster pet moms already knows what she has in store, thanks to her time in the program. She’s planning to pursue veterinary medicine when she’s released.
“These women are becoming positive contributors to society,” says Sen. Glenn Wakai, who advocated for TAIIL in the state Legislature after seeing how successful it was in an Arizona prison. “TAIIL is encouraging individuals who may have made mistakes in the past to become positive influences in the future.”
Making a difference
Since TAIIL launched last October, 32 kittens have been cared for by inmates, and 28 have been adopted. HHS expects to send 160 cats altogether by the time the 12-month pilot program wraps up.
Sen. Wakai with foster kittens and foster moms Sherri and Paulette
“It’s a win-win for everyone,” says Wakai. “The animals become more adoptable under the women’s care, and the women practice compassion and accountability.”
Photos courtesy Hawaiian Humane Society
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