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 After reading and re-reading this story, I thought how fantastic it would be to be able to do something like this here. With our epidemic pet abandonment rate, overflowing foster pet families (Leslie & Susie you're still my heroes!!), resources stretched paper thin, and STILL NO LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER in the near future this could be the answer. It seems to me to be a solution to a lot of local animal issue problems, please read it and share your opinion. Am I living in my own private Idaho or could something like this actually work? 

 We thought you might like this -SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT, AGAIN! Update on Joe Arpaio Oh, there's MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe! Maricopa County was spending, approximately, $18 million dollars, a year, on stray animals, like cats and dogs.  Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and, the CountySupervisors said okay. The animal shelters are, now, all staffed and operated by prisoners.  They feed and care for the strays  Every animal, in his care, is taken out and walked, twice, daily.  He, now, has prisoners, who are experts in animal nutrition and behaviour.  They give great classes for anyone who'd like to adopt an animal.  He has, literally, taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and, had them place in dog shows. The best part?  His budget for the entire department is, now, under $3 million.  Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner, from a Maricopa County shelter, two years ago.  He was neutered, and, current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted, the day we got him.  Cost us $78.The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but, most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day.  Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc.  He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals.