KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) - A fashion show fundraiser tomorrow night at the King of Prussia Mall launches a new program that pairs rescue dogs and prison inmates in an effort to make them both ready for society.

And Philadelphia will be the first city in the nation to have a program like this.

In “New Leash on Life,” so-called “unadoptable” dogs rescued from city shelters will be paired with local inmates who will then work with the dogs — teaching them socialized behavior — for however long it takes to make them adoptable.

“We are unique in the focus on both what happens to the dog and what happens to the inmate,” said Sharon Smith, vice chair of the program’s board, “so we will be providing job readiness training.”

Hear Karin Phillips’ full interview with Sharon Smith in this CBS Philly podcast…

The fashion show, which includes both humans and rescue dogs on the runway, is being held at the Neiman-Marcus department store at the King of Prussia Mall.  It is the first fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.

For more information, go to www.newleashonlife-usa.org.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060