Lancaster prison provides safe space for deaf dogs evacuated from 'Sand Fire'

A Lancaster prison has opened its doors to nearly 50 deaf dogs from the 'Deaf Dog Rescue' to provide a safe space for them as the 37,000-acre Sand Fire burns in the Santa Clarita Valley Mountains.

The rescue said on its Facebook page that hey struggled to find a place that would be able to accept all of the dogs which are now being cared for by the inmates and medicated by the Karma Rescue team.

'It wasn't mandatory, nor did we have impending flames licking at our heels. We decided to be better safe than sorry because we love our dogs here. They come first, always', they wrote.

LAC is home to Karma Rescue, a rehabilitative dog-training program in which inmates train shelter dogs in basic obedience and socialization, to prepare them for adoption. Trainer Mark Tipton also runs Deaf Dog Rescue of America, which specializes in the rescue, training and placement o f deaf dogs of all breeds.

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