When 1-year-old Cleo walks across the stage to accept her diploma during commencement ceremonies, she'll be trotting on all fours with her tail held high.
Cleo, a small terrier mix, will become Garrett Animal Shelter's 100th dog to complete the Puppies for Parole Program in a small ceremony at Algoa Correctional Center Thursday, complete with cake, treats and guests. The program pairs shelter dogs with obedience or training problems with prison inmates for training.
"This has been one of the best programs I think the City of Fulton has done involving the animals," said city Animal Control Supervisor Tina Barnes. "When (Cleo) first came to the shelter, she did not want anybody to touch her. She was just scared and kind of hovered back into the corner.
"Since then, she's come out of that shell. She loves people. Once she knows that you're not going to hurt her, she becomes a great lapdog."