Aug 12, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services
(239) 432-2090 Ext. 241

Lee County Cell Dogs Program Earns Florida Public Relations Award

Fort Myers, Florida (August 12, 2005) - The Lee County Cell Dogs Program was recognized by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) at its Annual State Conference Golden Image Awards ceremony held August 9th in St. Petersburg. The Lee County Cell Dogs Program is a unique partnership between The Lee County Sheriff's Office, Lee County Animal Services, and Companion Dog Training Center. 

The Image Awards competition is conducted annually by FPRA to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in the state. The Cell Dogs Program took top honors in the Institutional Category earning a Golden Image Award.  The Institutional Category represents programs that generate support for and awareness of the organization's mission, values, and programs. The program also earned an additional Judges Awards for achieving maximum results while using a minimum amount of money. 

The Cell Dogs Program places homeless shelter dogs to be obedience trained by carefully selected inmates. The dog-training program, taught by volunteers from Companion Dog Training Center, teaches inmates how to obedience train dogs during an intensive eight to 16 week course. Each animal has one primary inmate trainer and at least one secondary inmate trainer.

Upon graduation, the dogs are highly adoptable and possess obedience skills such as how to heel, sit, recall, and stay. They are also housed trained, leash trained and responsive to voice commands and some hand signals.

The Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence in the State of Florida.  Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design.  The awards competition includes four divisions of categories.  Entries must incorporate sound public relations research and planning and meet the highest standard of production, execution and evaluation of results and budget.

More information on the Lee County Cell Dogs is available at www.leecountycelldogs.com.  Get Information about the Lee County Sheriff's Office at www.sheriffleefl.org, Lee County Animal Services at www.leelostpets.com and Companion Dog Training Center at www.companiondogtrainingcenter.com.

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