Eastern State Penitentiary is partnering with New Leash on Life USA – a nonprofit prison dog training program, dedicated to improving the life of inmates and saving the lives of dogs – to present “Family Weekend: Pets in Prison” on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28. The event, designed for kids and adults of all ages, will feature interactive and educational activities all weekend long. Visitors can learn about the role of animals throughout Eastern State’s history, participate in an animal-themed scavenger hunt, and meet (and adopt) shelter dogs from a local prison dog-training program.
The scavenger hunt takes visitors to locations throughout the penitentiary complex to learn more about Eastern State’s most famous four-legged inmate, Pep the Dog, and about other animals throughout the prison’s history. Some furry (and some creepy-crawly) creatures once lived behind Eastern State Penitentiary’s walls. Some prisoners kept pets in solitary confinement, and a colony of feral cats occupied the property when the prison was abandoned. Officers once patrolled the grounds on horseback and kept German Shepherds for security.
Beginning at 1:00 p.m. each day, Norberto “Rob” Rosa will speak to visitors about his experience training dogs as an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford (SCIG), and how it ultimately affected his life and career. At age 18, Rob was sentenced to 12 years in prison. A puppy training program there changed his life, and today Rob is the Associate Vice President of Operations for New Leash on Life USA. Visitors to the historic site will hear more about his firsthand experience improving the lives of inmates and saving the lives of dogs.
This 15-minute presentation will be followed by a brief Q&A and will culminate in a dog training expo. Several dogs, trained by local inmates, will demonstrate the tricks they have learned through the New Leash on Life USA program. Visitors can meet the dogs and, if interested, can adopt any dogs that haven’t yet found homes.
All Family Weekend activities are included with standard admission. Regular daytime programs, including “The Voices of Eastern State” Audio Tour, guided Hands-On History tours, history exhibits, and artist installations, are also included with admission. Tickets are available online at www.easternstate.org, or at the door subject to availability.
