Source: Courtney Spinelli for WGN, via AOL, published April 22, 2026.
Friends, I have inspected today’s news with my mini Australian Shepherd nose, and this one made my tail do the full windshield-wiper setting.
In Cook County, shelter dogs are joining a program called Tails of Redemption, where people in custody help train them for adoption, therapy work, and the very important job of becoming somebody’s best buddy. The dogs practice manners and confidence. The humans practice patience, responsibility, and looking after a creature who is counting on them. As a small-but-mighty herding professional, I approve of any plan where everybody learns to sit, stay, and believe tomorrow can be better.
The especially good sniff: the program has already helped many dogs move on to forever homes, with some graduating into therapy-dog work for local agencies. That means a pup who once needed a chance can become the calm, wagging presence somebody else needs on a hard day. I am herding my feelings into a neat fluffy pile about this.
Max’s ruling: five paws up, plus one emergency zoomie. Second chances are excellent. Training treats should be distributed fairly. And if a dog can help a human remember their best self, that is not just good news. That is good-dog news.