At the Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center in Columbus, Ohio, a new initiative involving inmate-created portraits of shelter dogs has helped boost adoptions of animals that might otherwise have remained overlooked. Since the program’s launch around two months ago, 18 of the shelter’s longer-staying dogs have been adopted after their hand-drawn likenesses, created by inmates at the Franklin County Corrections Center, were displayed outside their kennels.

The program, known as Portraits with a Purpose, was developed by a jail social worker who recognized the artistic abilities of many incarcerated individuals. The jail administrator, Griffin Bluestone, noted that inmates frequently engage in drawing and portrait-making as a form of personal expression, often depicting family members and peers. Partnering with the shelter—which has worked with the jail on various dog-related activities for over 15 years—the initiative provides photographs of dogs who have spent weeks or months in the shelter for the inmates to choose from. Using colored pencils or graphite, participants spend from one day up to more than a week completing each detailed portrait.

Shelter director Kaye Persinger said the portraits capture the animals so accurately that they resemble photographs, helping potential adopters pause and reconsider dogs they might have otherwise overlooked. Many of the dogs featured had been at the shelter for between one month and a year prior to their portraits being displayed. Each artwork is accompanied by a letter from the incarcerated artist, who shares personal reflections but remains anonymous on the piece itself.

The program currently includes six inmates, ranging from a tattoo artist to a participant with an art degree. Bluestone aims to expand the initiative to another correctional facility within the county. The recent completion of an additional 30 portraits will allow more dogs to be featured at the shelter. Bluestone emphasized the program’s positive impact on inmates, highlighting how creating the portraits enables them to contribute meaningfully despite their confinement. “It reminds them that they can make a positive impact even when they’re in jail, and we’re hoping they carry this forward once they get released,” he said.

One participant, Michael Grieco, age 40, has completed multiple portraits. He shared that he felt a strong connection with one older dog, Gracie, because he himself was adopted as an older child. Grieco described the program as a way to support the dogs’ second chances and expressed his intention to continue drawing shelter animals.

The program has also resonated with adopters. James Bowshier and his wife initially came to the shelter looking for a puppy but were drawn to Herbie, a 1-year-old pit bull mix whose portrait hung near his kennel. Bowshier, who recalled his uncle’s own transformative experience training dogs while incarcerated, was moved by the artistic detail captured in the drawing. The Bowshiers adopted Herbie and kept the portrait, which now hangs prominently at their home.

Another adopter, Jerico Cook, expressed emotional gratitude upon adopting Aries, a pit bull terrier who had been in the shelter for over four months. Cook said receiving the inmate-drawn portrait led to tears and a desire to connect with the artist to express appreciation.

Persinger underscored the program’s success in increasing adoption rates for dogs with extended shelter stays, noting that the shelter receives about 10,000 dogs annually and many typically remain in care for a year or more. She believes that the portraits have changed this dynamic, fostering interest and companionship between the community and animals in need. “I’m guaranteeing that with this program in place, we will not have a dog sit here that long because of the success we’ve had with it already,” she said.

Beyond the practical outcomes, the program aims to instill a sense of purpose and belonging among participants, offering benefits to both the inmates and the shelter dogs awaiting new homes.