FOSTER PET PILOT PROGRAM KICKS OFF AT WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER
KAILUA — A new foster pet pilot program at the Women’s Community Correctional Center kicked off with the arrival of five kittens at the facility Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, from the Hawaiian Humane Society.
Participating inmates of the 12-month program, “Transforming Animal and Incarcerated Individuals’ Lives (TAIIL),” will become foster mothers to the young animals to encourage socialization and prepare the kittens for adoption. In turn, the women will develop useful skills as they prepare for reintegration to the community upon their release.
The pilot program is a partnership between the Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) and the Hawaiian Humane Society thanks to $50,000 in general funds appropriated by the state Legislature in 2024 for the project.
Under the TAIIL program, two minimum custody inmates received training by Hawaiian Humane Society staff in foster pet care. Each program participant will nurture two to three kittens at a time for approximately two weeks or so. The kittens are at least four weeks old.
Thereafter, Hawaiian Humane Society staff will pick up the kittens to conduct a wellness exam to determine if they are ready for adoption. Staff will then bring a new group of kittens to the correctional facility for the foster mothers’ care. Approximately 165 kittens are expected to be part of the TAIIL pilot program.
DCR Director Tommy Johnson, Deputy Director Melanie Martin of the Administration Division, Deputy Director Sanna Muñoz of the Rehabilitation Services and Programs Division, Corrections Program Services Administrator Frank Young, WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta, Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Pearl Harbor) and State Rep. Lisa Marten (D, Waimānalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai, Kailua) were among the honored guests who attended Thursday’s event at Hoʻokipa Cottage to kick off the pilot program.
Hawaiian Humane Society President and Chief Executive Officer Anna Neubauer; Stephanie Kendrick, Vice President of Community Engagement; Natalie Spencer, Vice President of Operations; Alexia Boyd, Director of Operations-Mōʻiliʻili Campus; Foster Care Manager Adrianne Daniels; and Brandy Shimabukuro, Director of Communications and Marketing, were also among the special guests that attended the event.
DCR Director Tommy Johnson said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Hawaiian Humane Society on the pilot program at WCCC. This will not only help rehabilitate incarcerated individuals and provide a sense of purpose, the compassion and care the women provide to the kittens will help prepare the young animals for adoption.”
DCR Deputy Director Sanna Muñoz echoed Johnson’s sentiment. “The pilot program mutually benefits the women and the kittens. Additionally, it benefits the community whose homes these kittens will be adopted into. This program is a prime example of our department’s mission to rehabilitate those in our custody and care,” Muñoz said.
Hawaiian Humane Society President and Chief Executive Officer Anna Neubauer said they are honored to partner with DCR on the groundbreaking foster pet pilot program at WCCC. “Research consistently demonstrates that animal-assisted programs in correctional settings can significantly reduce recidivism rates while teaching invaluable life skills such as responsibility, empathy and compassion,” Neubauer said.
“By providing these young animals with dedicated, nurturing care during their most critical developmental period, we are not only helping them become well-socialized and adoption-ready, but also giving participants meaningful purpose and valuable skills that will serve them well upon reintegration into the community,” she added.
“We look forward to seeing the transformative impact TAIIL will have on both our animals and the women who care for them,” Neubauer said.
WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta said, “This program is aimed to boost confidence and self-worth for participating inmates as they serve as foster mothers to the kittens. The program will also help foster rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.”
Sen. Glenn Wakai, vice chair of the Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, and strong supporter who championed the foster pet pilot program, said, “Caring for cats is a purr-poseful approach to rehabilitating our incarcerated women.”
“The inmates will exit (the facility upon release) with more compassion and a sense of responsibility, while the felines will be more adoptable. This double win comes at a minimal cost to taxpayers,” Wakai added.
Broll and photos of the event, courtesy of the Hawaiian Humane Society, are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-StJXjwR1faNjyQSSZoKaCBSa3OkCRkC?usp=sharing.
Media contacts:
Rosemarie Bernardo
Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office: 808-587-1358
Cell: 808-683-5507
Email:[email protected]
Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov
Brandy Shimabukuro
Director of Communications and Marketing
Hawaiian Humane Society
Phone: 808-356-2206
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hawaiianhumane.org