Eastern State Penitentiary Hosts "Pets In Prison" Event
By Justin Udo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- From dogs and cats to pigs and horses, Eastern State Penitentiary housed a lot more creatures than just humans. The penitentiary has a new program that is teaching the public about the history of animals in prison.
Prisoners at Eastern State Penitentiary had everything from bug collections to cats. One of the more notable animal residents who lived there was a black lab named Pep, who was part prisoner, part pet.
"He actually had a mug shot," said Lauren Zalut, Associate Director of Tour Development, "but we at the historic site have never actually seen his intake card."
Zalut says they also want to teach people about how animals are used in today's prison system.
"People from New Leash On Life, which is prison dog training program that's here in Pennsylvania," she said, "they actually take dogs who are about to be killed in a shelter and we give them a new chance on life by pairing them with inmates."
The 'Pets In Prison' program runs all weekend and comes back to the penitentiary in August.
