Washington DOC's Freedom Tails Program Welcomes New Rescue Partner

Stafford Creek Corrections Center partners with Timber Tails K9 Rescue to rehabilitate rescue dogs and prepare them for adoption

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Washington Department of Corrections' Freedom Tails program has welcomed a new rescue partner, Timber Tails K9 Rescue, to its facility at Stafford Creek Corrections Center. Through this partnership, six dogs and six puppies have been brought into the prison, where incarcerated individuals will serve as their primary caregivers, providing socialization, training, and preparing the dogs for adoption.

Why it matters

The Freedom Tails program has been operating since 2009, partnering with local animal rescues to provide incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to care for and train rescue dogs. This new partnership with Timber Tails K9 Rescue expands the program's reach and impact, helping more rescue animals find permanent homes while also supporting the rehabilitation and reentry of the incarcerated participants.

The details

The adult dogs will live with their incarcerated handlers for 12 weeks, during which time the handlers will work to socialize the dogs, feed and exercise them, and train them to earn the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification. The puppies will stay with their handlers for 6 weeks and work towards earning the AKC's S.T.A.R. puppy certification. Upon completion of the program, the dogs will transition to local foster homes while awaiting adoption.

  • The Freedom Tails program launched in 2009.
  • In 2017, the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association selected Freedom Tails as a recipient of its Humane Animal Welfare Award.
  • The new partnership with Timber Tails K9 Rescue was announced in February 2026.

The players

Freedom Tails

A program operated by the Washington Department of Corrections that partners incarcerated individuals with rescue dogs to provide socialization, training, and prepare the dogs for adoption.

Timber Tails K9 Rescue

A nonprofit organization that rescues and rehabilitates abandoned dogs in Grays Harbor County, Washington, and helps them find permanent homes.

Stafford Creek Corrections Center

A prison facility in Aberdeen, Washington, where the Freedom Tails program is operated.

Gordon Pete Stacy

An incarcerated individual currently participating in the Freedom Tails program as a handler for a large husky mix named Cyrus.

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What they’re saying

“To be able to have an animal that we're responsible for, everything from grooming to feeding. His life is in our hands and that's a big responsibility.”

— Gordon Pete Stacy, Incarcerated handler (chronline.com)

What’s next

The dogs will transition to local foster homes after completing the program, and the organization's goal is to have permanent adoption homes lined up by the time the training ends.

The takeaway

The Freedom Tails program continues to expand its reach and impact, providing incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to care for and rehabilitate rescue dogs, while also preparing the dogs for successful adoption into permanent homes. This partnership with Timber Tails K9 Rescue further demonstrates the program's commitment to animal welfare and supporting the rehabilitation and reentry of its participants.