Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan

Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan is one of my very favorite rescue groups! I love what they do for shelter dogs as well as providing inmates with a rewarding opportunity to help the community. It's a win-win for everyone!

I highly recommend reaching out to them if you are available to provide a short-term foster home, or even if you're looking for your next fur baby!

11 years and 7 months ago we adopted our amazing 12 week old puppy. RPSM got a call from a shelter that a pregnant female and her stud had been dropped off. Mom Peaches was ready to deliver. RPSM volunteers drove clear across the state and brought Peaches and Mike to a safe, loving foster home. That night, Nile and his littermates were born. I am forever grateful for the amazing start in life these pups got.
All these years later, RSPM is still changing the lives of precious souls.
We love you RSPM.

I love this organization already! Their mission sparks my heart, and I can’t wait to find my perfect fit! They truly work with you through the application process to get to know you, so their dogs end up in the homes they deserve.

I have been looking for a dog for several months. I wanted a rescue. I needed a smart calm dog who can be trained as a service dog. After a lot of frustration and no help from local organizations who I fostered for, I found RPSM on petfinder. Volunteers from RPSM have been looking for the right fit for several months. Then Bronco came in to the shelter so I met him and offered to foster and he will be going in to train in a couple weeks! I just love him and know the wait was worth it to find the right dog. The training will help so much as he is a big dog and I have mobility issues that I want him to help with and make it hard for me to train such a strong dog without him having a good understanding of recall and loose leash walking and the consistent repetition it takes to get him trained well. I’m so happy with the match and can’t wait till he comes home from prison to see how far he can go with the training! I highly recommend RPSM.

We need have our second RPSM family member. We love her so much and she gets along incredibly with her older brother and RPSM alum. The work this group does is so incredible and simply restorative all around. It helps bring healing and futures to both the animals and the incarcerated.

This organization goes above and beyond! We adopted our dog, Echo back in April and he was house broken, crate trained, and knew 20+ commands from his prison training program! He adjusted to his new environment so well. RPSM has a detailed selection process for owners to match the dogs up with their forever homes. Our dog Echo is a perfect fit. We loved working with this company as everyone was very nice and did their best to make things personalized, we have recommended them to lots of friends and family!

RPSM helped me rescue Diesel. He has been a wonderful addition to our family. Such a good boy and knows lots of commands as well as tricks. So thank you for RPSM and they valuable work they do.

I'm still volunteering with this spectacular organization! Again, they not only helped many dogs and inmates but they again personally helped my family. I can never say enough wonderful things about this group! They, those who do the vast majority of the work, truly only exist to help souls!

We have worked with this non-profit for several years. They are excellent to work with and we highly recommend them. Your experience will be to the highest level and commitment.

Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan was the best experience I had when looking to adopt my dog. From the first application to the last paperwork before official adoption the team at RPSM was SO thorough. You could truly see and feel the passion the volunteers had to ensure that the dogs were placed in homes that could give them what they needed especially when it came to a long-term/permanent placement. Whenever I tell people about where I got my dog they are shocked to hear that RPSM puts the dogs through a 10 week training program before they can be adopted. I don’t have enough great things to say about them. Brody and I are so happy to have had them connect us as buddies for life!

We adopted Merle, a hound mix, in August from RPSM. The foster families that had taken care of her were awesome. A great organization helping dogs get adopted. They even text after the adoption to make sure everything is going ok and to answer questions.

Two years ago I adopted Charlie, through RPSM. I have never been happier with a pet. Charlie's foster mother recognized immediately that we were to bond. I am happy that RPSM checked me out before I adopted. Charlies deserves a good, healthy and happy home. I love the training program RPSM offers. This is the way to get a dog.

This place is the best we adopted from here 6 years ago. Best dog ever. It was like she felt at home as soon as she walked through our door. Great manners and the most loveable dog ever. Un fortunately she past away 3monrhs ago from cancer . There will never be another Rocket

It has been my pleasure to volunteerfor RPSM since 2011. We are an all volunteer rescue that continuously saves lives (the pups), gives meaning to the disenfranchised (our trainers at the Coldwater Correctional Facility) which, in turn, result in successful adoptions. It's a win win win endeavor!

Last year we adopted Jelly, a chihuahua mix. The process went smoothly and RPSM was super to work with.

One of the greatest rescues ever!!! It is such a pleasure to work with these people!

My family adopted Sam in January of 2020 and we couldn’t be happier with the experience! When we first met him at his foster parents house we knew he was the dog for us. The foster parents are “dog people” and since we have children 4 and 8 we needed to trust their evaluation of the dog’s temperament. They Were great and explained the different ways they tested him and they were confident Sam would be a good family dog. We came and visited a second time before Sam went to training and the foster parents were so accommodating and helpful! It was a long 12 week wait while he was in training but we loved reading the weekly updates. When we finally were able to pick Sam up it was such a fun day. Sam bonded quickly and everyone in the family enjoys keeping up with his daily training. I even took up running now that I have a new running partner and we regularly go on family walks with Sam. Every step of our experience with RPSM was positive and we really appreciated all of the follow up work to make sure Sam was settling in and addressing any problem that may arise. Sam did great transitioning but its comforting to know program coordinators are willing and able to help. The volunteers do everything possible to make adoptions successful for dogs and owners alike. We struggled with the decision to adopt vs get a puppy especially adopting a one year old big dog with two small kids in the house but It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Sam has completed our family!
Thank you RPSM!

RPSM puts so much hard work into not only training the dogs but matching them to their forever homes. I originally found them on PetFinder when I noticed a dog they had a posting about. I applied and learned so much about who they were and what they do for the dogs, I was in awe of their work. While that dog and I were not meant to be together, I was approved to be a potential adopter for a future dog they bring into the program. They knew my preferences and they said they would let me know if a dog comes up that they think would be a good fit. 9 weeks later I got an email about a dog who was graduating soon that they thought I might like. I meet him the day after his Parole and the rest is history. I couldn't be more thankful that they brought Cooper into our lives. We are so grateful to everyone involved in the Program, Trainers, Volunteers, Foster, and even other adopters who provide a sense of community. We couldn't have found a better group.

We love RPSM! We adopted from their program in Nov 2019. The handlers do an amazing job training the dogs to become well behaved and engaged canine citizens. All the volunteers at RPSM were extremely pleasant to work with from application to adoption day. They truly love what they do and it shows. We will adopt from RPSM again and continue to preach their program to everyone we know :)

Small but effective team of amazing volunteers! The RPSM team has created an effective process to serve and save dogs.
My personal learning experience has been tremendous RPSM has allowed me to provide assistance specializing in cattle dogs. I currently have two RPSM adoptees and one foster who I love dearly and am so glad that I am lucky enough to be apart of the program.

I have two wonderful dogs adopted from RPSM. I love that this organization benefits so many in so many ways. Dogs benefit from rescue, training, confidence and finding a forever home. Adopters benefit from welcoming a new dog into the family - and they are dogs with skills! Inmates benefit - those participating in the training who are required to maintain behavior standards to remain in the program. They learn to give calm, supportive guidance to these pups. Consistence is a must. And the other inmates get to have dogs around. I couldn’t imagine life without a dog.

My dogs lived with foster families before entering the program. There they start learning foundation skills. The fosters are wonderful generous folk who open their hearts and homes. Application to adopt is pretty in depth and tHe folks who process applications do a great job. They even took the time to talk to ALL of my references. That showed me they care about making this program a success. Then I was guided through picking up each dog by a member of RPSM. So positive all the way along. Finally they administer a Facebook group where adopters can ask for and offer each other support and guidance.

I cannot say enough so here’s some pictures.

They were so patient with me until I found our perfect dog. This is an incredibly important organization. Everyone is kind and you can tell they honestly LOVE these dogs and they love what they are doing. RPSM benefits so many. The dogs, the inmates who train them and bring out the best of every dog, and we who are lucky enough to bring home the perfect dog. I adore this organization!

We are proud to have a RPSM family member and can’t say enough wonderful things about this passionate group!

I have only great things to say about this organization. From the initial email exchange to picking up our new best friend from the foster, everything was wonderful. Each one of the volunteers I interacted with was friendly and helpful and really seemed committed to finding the best match for my household. The training program run through the correctional facility is outstanding. It is apparent that the dogs are loved and handled with care by the men who train them. The dog we adopted is the first dog I've ever had and he is the best. So smart and loving and listens better than many dogs I've known. If I were ever to adopt another dog I'd do so through RPSM. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to adopt.

We had been trying to adopt a dog for several months without luck. Unscrupulous places would try to lure unsuspecting pet parents by posting pics of dogs they really didn't have just to get contact information they could sell. Some places would never get back to us after we inquired. I made an appointment to meet a dog only to see someone else walking out with the dog when I got there. (I left there in tears.) I was close to giving up when I saw Tigger. I had to try one more time and It was so worth it. The folks at RPSM were so kind and helpful. They got back to me every time I called/emailed/texted/ and they worked with me to make the adoption happen. She was too fearful of people to go through the training program, but they didn't give up on her. Even after she came to be part of our family, they checked on her and sent me all her history of shots and such. RPSM was a joy to work with. They restored my faith in the adoption industry.

I adopted a dog last Fall and I was blown away by how fluid the process was. I submitted my application on a Saturday and within a week our family was chosen to adopt. Communication was two-way and they answered any questions I had and eased my anxiety of not being able to see the dog prior to adoption day. They were knowledgeable and friendly at every step. The day of the adoption we were not able to make it to pick up and they went above and beyond to meet us at a time that worked for us. Because of all these positive qualities, I am now a foster for this group. They have far exceeded my expectations in regards to organization, communication and mentorship.

Seeing the impact this program has on so many Men that previously had no self worth, no empathy and no interest in working with others to a common goal. The Inmates, the volunteers, the dogs makes this program 100% worth investing in.

I love the great work all the volunteers do to help inmates and dogs get a second chance. Dogs get training before finding their forever homes and inmates get the training knowledge to find a job when they are released. Adopters get a well trained dog. Win-win-win.

RPSM is an absolutely amazing organization. These people have hearts of gold and are committed to restoration and education throughout the entire cycle of their program.
Dogs win, families win, inmates are given purpose and training. It is incredible to see one idea benefit so many facets of society.

Our family is blessed with an RPSM dog and we are blessed for knowing the kind souls of RPSM.

We have adopted both of these little cuties from Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan.
The adoption process was very easy. Not only do they save dogs and help inmates. They also do an amazing job matching dogs and adopters.
We have recommended them at ever chance over the last 7 years and will continue to do so.

Three years ago we applied to adopt a dog that was in training through the RPSM program. Another family was chosen, but they knew what we were looking for, and a few days later we received a call about Mylee, an owner surrender. They asked if we would be interested in fostering her until the next group of dogs entered the prison training program. We said yes, and we adopted her when she was ‘paroled’. She is a beautiful, sweet girl and we love her very much. We have fostered several more, and adopted one of them, our boy Maui. We have a grand dog, Cheddar, that is an RPSM alumni too.
I also help with processing applications for potential adopters-it’s very fulfilling and I’m glad I can assist in helping more dogs get their forever homes. It’s a terrific organization!

I adopted my beautiful deaf boxer from here. The people are great to work with , and I also volunteer for them . GREAT ORGANIZATION!!!!

Today is Gia's Gotcha Day Anniversary! One year ago today she came into our family and made it complete. She's such a loving and fun filled girl. She adds so much joy and love to our home. Thank you to everyone involved in RPSM for all you do to save these precious furbabies and give us the chance to have our lives enriched by having them as part of our family. Such an awesome program!!!!

My husband and I lost 2 dogs in short order from old age. Needless to say, we were heartbroken. We have a commitment to only getting rescued dogs so when we were ready, we started looking at various rescue groups. That's when we found Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan. We loved everything we read about the program: rescued dogs, inmates getting the opportunity to learn and give back, and well-trained dogs. It's a trifecta of wonderful! We applied to adopt a dog but he was being promised to another family so they asked us what we were looking for. We wanted another big boy to add to our family. After waiting awhile, RPSM reached out to me saying they believed they found the dog for us. We took our third dog with us to visit Wrigley while he was in a foster home waiting for his turn to be in training. We had a match! I was so excited reading the updates about how Wrigley was doing while in training! Oh, and then that day came when we got to go and pick him up - just pure joy! We dedicated ourselves to maintaining the training he had received. Wrigley is just wonderful and we love him dearly. At one point the program shared the stories of the inmates who are the trainers. The stories spoke to how becoming a trainer has influenced them. Dogs can be a powerful source of love and comfort, they give us so much more than we give them. I cant recommend this program enough! I know when we lose our old girl (18), we'll turn back to RPSM to fill our home again.

Pia was the name of the dog I met at nearby dog park. She came from Prison program in KY and was the inspiration of looking for the similar organization around this area.
I am so super grateful to be part of this rescue. As my teacher taught me, we are still part of the problem until we become part of the solution. I’m so grateful to be part of these amazing group of people, all the volunteers, adopters and trainers! Did I mention dogs? Yes these love filled dogs!

Very thoughtful and caring organization. I am happy to be able to participate with fostering.

I adopted two wonderful dogs from RPSM. Gypsy is about 7 years old and still knows all her commands she learned while in the prison. Chief is about 3 years old and was a very neglected pup before coming into the program. Although you'd never know he came from such a negative environment as the prison program worked really hard to help him overcome his fear-based obstacles and now he's a wonderful, loving pup. I will always adopt dogs from this amazing program that helps not only the dogs but the prisoners too. Amazing rescue!

RPSM matched us with a perfect addition to our family was very accommodating to the needs of our family! Pete has been with us 8 months and we can tell the training he received has helped bring his sweet personality to life! We are so thankful to RPSM for bringing us together!

I adopted my Riley from RPSM and I couldn't be more pleased with how well behaved she is. The training was superb and all the volunteers have been amazing to work with.

I adopted Harley, an 8 year old standard poodle from Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan and every day I say "who rescued who?" I still send photos to his amazing foster mom Lynn.

Rpsm helped me find my forever friend Riley Louise

I have met many of the RPSM group and have been so amazed by how much they do for all the animals.
The amount of time alone spent taking them to vet visits and adoptions or home visits to see if they fit well
in the home and with other pets is very time consuming, yet they volunteer their time and get it done! They hold events where they take dogs that need homes so you can meet them and so many find homes that way! The dogs are so fortunate to have this group taking the time to get them into forever homes and getting them out of the shelters! Very loving and caring people, and the training program is a win win!

A much needed charity. Great way to help unwanted dogs find forever homes.

I met Koda through RPSM in June of 2015. She had learned the basics for becoming a service dog to help out with my dysautonomia. She came along with letters and advice from the trainers she had been working with, which were incredibly helpful in helping her have a smooth transition. In addition, volunteers and new friends from RPSM have kept in contact to check in with us and answer and any questions that come up. Koda is so much more incredible than I ever could have asked for. She is patient, good with people and other animals, gentle, obedient, a great companion, and incredibly intelligent. Her first alert was within our first 24 hours of working together, and she hasn't let me down since. She loves riding the trains, will"place" under tables in restaurants patiently, and is an essential part of what has been dubbed "Team KJ." Thank you, RPSM, for my best friend and guardian angel! She is a champ!

Go to www.ilovesogs.com and search, "Penny" and you will see our RPSM story on video. RPSM is the best rescue!

Refurbished Pets in Cold water, most amazing group of people so caring and loving. They match you and make sure its a equal fit, my dog is so special to service work I can't even begin to say more, they go above and beyond to help.. I am so in love my second set of hands ..they deserve this..

I love working with dogs, and their individual personalities amaze me. When I read that Refurbished pets was looking for foster's I immediately did my research and fell in love with their program. Each animal is spayed or neutered, up to date on shots, and most go through a ten week training program! I now foster for this program and I am blown away by the people I am meeting that are involved. They all are truly a caring and loving group! The prison program not only help the dogs get a second chance at finding their forever homes, but give the prisoners a second chance too. I give this program the 5 star rating and wish it went higher because of all the rescue programs I have knowledge of RPSM blows them all out of the water. The board memebers and the people involved give their all and in my eyes get 100%!!

I adopted a beautiful red golden retriever named Sky . If it was not for Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan this adorable and loving golden would not have had a chance to experience a good life as all animals should. Sky became a therapy dog and touched so many lives from young to old. She was well mannered and trained when I received her. Unfortunately, she has passed from cancer but lives always in my heart and others. Thank you RPSM for allowing me to adopt this gentle golden.

We got our crazy, fun-loving Max (Boomer) a year ago from Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan. He has brought so much joy and laughter into our family; we hadn't realized that we were missing it so much. RPSM was one of the best organizations that I've ever had contact with. The weekly updates were fun to read, we felt that Max was a part of our family from the very beginning. The contact for pick-up/meet and greet was very helpful working around our schedule and hers. The ability to keep Max's handlers updated on his life since "parole" has been fun (I write them as though Max is writing the letter about his life). Max had learned so many tricks and commands while in the prison program and he still continues to perform them for people he meets. We truly love our Max and can't imagine a life without him. Thanks so much RPSM for rescuing him, training him and allowing us to adopt him!!!! I hope your mission continues and many more dogs get rescued and adopted!!!

In January 2009, we lost our beloved geriatric Dobergirl, Jessie. I began looking in Canada, where we live, for a rescue Doberman. There were none available for adoption at that time (weird I know, because there are plenty now). That led me to Petfinder where I saw a picture of a Dobe that I knew was perfect and he was at RPSM. Shortly after submitting my request for adoption, I got a phone call telling me that I could possibly have Lance once a home inspection was done. We live 5 hours away! RPSM did not immediately say no, but worked with us to get the local Humane Society in to do the home inspection and within days we were on our way to adopt Lance. The foster home was loving and caring and we could sense that he had improved a lot emotionally from his trauma before his rescue. Lance's adoption fee was the total of all his vet services (which included neutering and immunizations) and since we were from Canada we also received info and paperwork for taking Lance back across the border. For 6 years now I have been telling everyone who will listen how fabulous RPSM is and I would not hesitate to go back to them where Lance's days are done.

My experience interacting with the RPSM has been nothing short of inspiring and full fulling. To see the volunteer work they do to help rescue the pets of Michigan that otherwise would have been euthanized is heart warming and touches the heart of this animal lover! I have experience their generosity, patience and caring for over 6 years and have had a chance o be a part of each and every dogs life that has come through the program to be trained and adopted. To hear the success stories and see the changes in the dogs from the time we first see them to how happy and outgoing when they are done makes life seem a little more on an even keel. It gives us all hope that everything in this world does not have to be about the negatives. Keep up the awesome work you do guys!!!!

We had lost our best buddy Yukon, he went through cancer treatment as I did, only I faied better. He died in my arms, and after him being the 5th SIberian Husky (and the closest to me) it was very hard to get over. I happened to see Apollo, and it was perfect from the get go. Even though he does not look a lot like Yukon, his mannerisma are so identical to both Yukon and Sasha, our Husky previous to Yukon. RPSM had such a great idea of training the pets, as well as giving the inmates in their program something to care for, strive for, as well as to give back to the community, I just had to put my bid in, not just for APollo but for the inmastes as well. I just think the program is awesome, and APollo has such good trainaing, he listens and obeys 90% of the time, and the other 10% is his sassyness. But we love him to death, and it has been a perfect fit with our other Dog, and 2 cats (one of which as passed on since after 18 years) I would hihly recommend everyone to go to them, and their volunteers are such great caring people to work with, and I truly beleive all is in the best interest of the animals, as much as it is the imates. Thank you very much for such a great cause and super job!!

We adopted Buddy (formerly Bear) from RPSM after seeing a video of him going through his commands. We were searching for a lab mix to adopt and were so excited when we saw this video. We contacted RPSM and had a fantastic experience working with them to be able to adopt Buddy. Buddy is the most loving, sweet, playful, smart and obedient dog I have ever had. People who meet Buddy for the first time fall in love with him -even my sister who is not necessarily a "dog person".
I'm so grateful for the work that RPSM do to help dogs like ours find a home and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new addition to their family. The process was great and the people were top-notch.

We had to put our 14 yr old lab down on Christmas Day 2013. A few months passed. Our other small dog Sophie, missed Cocoa terribly. She was unhappy for weeks. She would lay the patio door watching for her to come home. I began searching for a lab or lab mix on Petfinder.com I located Ellie's picture and bio. She was in foster care in Coldwater, MI. So her journey home began! She was a 6 month old stray that was picked up running the streets. RPSM put her in foster care until she was evaluated and accepted into Coldwater Inmate Training Program. We received weekly updates and evaluations from her training team. We were notified when she had graduated and told when and where to pick her up. She was 9 months old the day she was released from the program. I picked her up that same day at her foster mom's home. As I signed the adoption papers, she laid down next to me and fell asleep. It took very little time for her to acclimate to our home. RPSM are very attentive to your questions and concerns post adoption. We were encouraged to call or email with any time. We were amazed at the numerous commands Ellie knew and especially grateful that she was completely housebroken. She's never had an accident. Ellie is a beautiful, energetic one year old, black lab mix. She LOVES to play with Sophie and has brought new energy and happiness back to our household. She runs around the back yard with glee, trying to keep her toys from Sophie. She also loves to play in the hose and bite the water! Her only bad behavior now is barking at dogs that pass by. However, most of her anxiety is provoked by Sophie who is a yappy small dog breed. LOL We are putting her in a program to socialize her more with other dogs and further her leash training. We have been truly blessed by the time and effort the volunteers at RPSM have given, to bring Ellie to our forever home. We just LOVE her! :)

I discovered rpsm when I was searching for my first dog. I was thrilled that they could give me so much information about temperament and personality. When I read about shiloh I knew he was the dog for us. The volunteers for this organization clearly love these animals and make sure that they are a good fit for adopters. Shiloh is the very best dog I've ever known. Everyone falls in love with him. He's just a kind, gentle sole. Our lives were so boring before he joined our family. I will never look anywhere else for a dog again.

We were looking for a dog after we lost our boxer, and we discovered RPSM. We saw the various dogs available through them, and found our cute Ransom... he had the look of a clown, and sure enough, that's just what he is. The trainers said he wasn't the most brilliant dog, but he sure is lovable... and he knows his tricks really well. We laugh at him every day, and I just appreciate so much what RPSM does to help save these animals that might have been euthanized if they'd been left in the shelters. Thank you, and give the trainers our thanks again for training our Handsome Ransom!

after we picked the two dogs we wanted. and things were put into motion for adoption , we started getting up dated on the progress they were making with their training at the cold water prison. this was hand written letters from the prisoners that trained the dogs. i was impressed that the dogs and prisoners lived together during this training.
finally we got the dogs. we were very pleased with the condition, and their behavior.
today we have two dogs i would never give up . they are healthy loyal and obey their commands to the letter. we would highly recommend looking at the dogs with in the prison training system.
by the way the two we got were play buddies at the prison and i have never seen two dogs that played ,slept and ate together so well

I love that I'm able to help RPSM in ways I never thought would be possible! I'm disabled and unable to work because I get dizzy a lot when standing for any amount of time. When I found out I could help by doing work from home, on my pc, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to help out a great group of people and a great program! The dogs, trainers, and volunteers all benefit from this great program, and I'm so happy to be a part of it!!

My Golden Retriever, Bear, passed in April 2013 and by May I was really missing the companionship a pet offers. I wanted another Golden Retriever, but didn't know where to go to find one. I did a general search on the internet for Golden Retrievers and the RPSM Group came up with a hit for an adoptable Golden Retriever mix. I took one look at Cedar and knew she was the dog for me. I contacted the RPSM Group through their website and the rest is history. They worked with me through the whole adoption process, from application to approval to the day I picked Cedar up in June. Their program for training dogs is amazing. The behavior Cedar learned through her training with her handlers at the prison is why she's the well behaved, social girl she is today.

I am seriously thinking about getting a fur sibling for Cedar and wouldn't go anywhere else.

I HIGHLY recommend the RSPM Group to anyone looking for a well trained pet.

Little did I know that a picture of a little terrier mix would change my life. After mourning my 14 year old corgi's death and thinking I could never go through that pain again, I found Mickey's picture while web surfing rescue sights. I live over 4 hours away and worried that distance would affect the adoption process; yet RPSM assured me I could adopt if I met their requirements. The rest is history! I'm the proud owner of Mickey-Moo my little clown who happens to be all terrier-even tho he's really a mutt!! After bringing him home I needed advice on an unexpected behavior issue that was kinda scary. They were right on the mark with their advice and he has blossomed. No more issues. He gets along with dogs and people. They were upfront about his high prey instinct and we manage it with games and toys and water play. We let him hunt mice and shrews in the yard and occasionally he grabs the unfortunate bird from the air but I understand this is part of being a terrier. He can't help himself. He loves to hunt. He's my little shadow and life is very busy again Now, if only I had his energy . . . Thank you RPSM for knowing that he was worth saving. Gotta go. Mickey is telling me something. No, Timmys not in the well; I think he said "Thanks RPSM".

Dulce joined our family in October of 2013 and she has been a pleasure. We bore our friends and co-workers with stories and photos of her antics. She has settled right in to a home with two senior citizens and 5 other assorted pets. We talk often about our experience with RPSM and what wonderful work they do. They gave Dulce a chance when no one would adopt her. No, she isn't perfect and no, she didn't complete the program but, if it weren't for RPSM, she might never have been adopted. When we are ready for another dog we will be in touch with RPSM...even though we live a long way away!

I have family & friends who work at the prison where these dogs are trained. All speak highly of the RPSM program. The dogs are socialized but if one doesn't pass muster, it is removed from the program. Most are so eager to please! This program benefits the animals, teaches patience & compassion to the inmate responsible for their care, as well as the adopting individual or family. This is truly a win-win program!!

I learned of RPSM by accident when I was searching for just the right addition to my household. I saw a dog that I fell in love with from his picture. I started inquiring about him and found out HE WAS TRAINED TOO!!! The more I learned about RPSM, the more I respected their roll in helping unfortuante animals get a chance at forever.

After I adopted my big boy and he got all settled in, I contacted RPSM to let them know I (we) would like to open our home to other animals in transition. We (my 2 dogs and I) feel it is only right to share our good fortune and blessings with others.

Fostering will lift your spirits and warm your heart. It's not a life-long commitment, just a very important one. Think about becoming a foster parent with RPSM. You will be glad!

I have been fostering dogs for RPSM for 8 months, I have never seen or heard anything like this before and I absolutely love it. Everyone I have meet that helps with the program go out of there way to help anyone or any animal. I couldn't ask for a better program to volunteer for. I especially love getting to meet new people and animals. I think the program not only helps the animals but the prisoners as well.

A fantastic organization that really cares about the animals. The prison program has changed so many prisoners lives soo amazing. I foster for RPSM and i plan to continue for years to come.

I started volunteering for RPSM a little over a year ago and I am so glad I did. I already had 3 dogs, but knew there were so many others out there that needed someone and wanted to find a way to help them too. As luck would have it, I saw a post on Facebook looking for volunteers for RPSM and I thought it would be perfect. I am proud of every one of the dogs that RPSM has been able to make a difference in the lives of. Seeing how the dogs make a difference in the prisoners lives and how the prisoners make a difference in the dogs lives makes me see what a positive thing this program is. The group is wonderful and I have not only found a group that does positive things for people and dogs, but I have also found some very good friends and wonderful people. As long as I am able, I will continue to volunteer.

I started volunteering with rpsm about 4 yrs. ago. I was retired, widowed, and needed to do something that would make a difference for the dogs I was seeing in shelters. I found this rescue to be one of the most caring and devoted rescues to work with. The prison training program is a winner for both the dog and the inmate trainers. I became a "foster failure" during my first year, by adopting the dog I had fostered. There was a real connection between this cho. Lab. named Hank and me. After his wonderful training I decided he had to be mine. I cannot say enough about how great this program is and how it changes the lives of so many people and dogs. The inmates that become trainers are learning a skill that has helped several find careers upon release from prison. The dogs are saved, trained and adopted and are given a second chance to enjoy the love of a family. All of our volunteers are so giving of their time and energy and are always willing to go that extra mile to help in anyway. As long as I can walk a dog I will continue volunteering with rpsm.

Hi, We have adopted twice through Rpsm and both times it has been a wonderful expierence. Our first Abby is a treasure even though she is a little ball obsessed. She could play all day if only would could throw that long. Our second boy was pretty timid(Shield) and it took a long time for him to truly blossom but Ozzy as he is now called is a crazy happy bundle of joy now. we stay in touch with the folks from Rpsm and send pics and post on Facebook all about our furkids for the world to see. If ever we adopt again and I am sure we will in time they will be our first contact. They care deeply about the dogs they foster and want the best for all parties. We are he proud parents of 5 rescue dogs and I must say these guys took the most care in checking us out before placing a dog with us and I feel that is very important.
Karen and Karl Long

We adopted Cinder more two years ago. We love her so much, she is a great addition to our family. We are looking forward to bring Daisy home later this month. Thanks to all the volunteers that make this program be a success.

In May my family and I were searching for a family pet. We came upon a beautiful dog named Juliet and immediately fell in love. We looked into adopting her and contacted RPSM and filled out the paperwork. We later found out what a fantastic organization we had become apart of. These dogs are strays, abandoned and not wanted dogs, and RPSM builds these dogs back up again by using prisioners at Coldwater Penitentiary to train them. It not only helps the dogs, but the inmates as well. We were so thrilled with how the apodtion process went and what a fantastic dog Juliet was, that we apodted another dog Bo 3mo later. Since then RPSM have become more of a second family to us.

My husband and I adopted Gracie June from RPSM last August. He says that she is the "perfect" dog, and she's pretty darned close! The training she had in the prison really facilitated her transition from the streets to coddled home. RPSM screens potential adopters carefully to determine suitability of homes, owners and pets. They do education about spaying and neutering. What really attracted me to the program though was the rehab potential for the incarcerated trainers. This could be something that really turns their lives around. This is an amazing group, totally devoted to their cause. I also do occasional volunteer work for them and wish I could do more.

When I decided to adopt a dog I didn't know where to start. Discovering Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan (RPSM) changed my whole outlook on the process. I admit I had concerns about owning a dog in an apartment but during my home visit (yes they do a home visit to make sure you are a good candidate for adoption) all my questions were answered with respect and professionalism. It's sometimes hard for me to believe that I will have had by dog for five years in October. It was the best thing I've ever done.

The people behind RPSM LOVE dogs and want the best for them - they take the job of finding the perfect forever home for their dogs very seriously and with great love. People may wonder about having a dog trained in a prison, but it is the best of both worlds. The dogs form a bond with humans they may never have experienced, before where love and affection are felt every day while they get wonderful training and care. For the inmate trainers, they say how important it is to them to have this task in their rehabilitation. They also participate in fund raising for the organization. If you adopt a dog still in the system (not 'paroled'), you will receive updates from the inmates as to how your future dog is doing, what they are learning, and a bit of insight to the the personality of the dog.

Along with their adoption work, they do a find job of educating animal lovers about situations in the animal world including pet rescue in general and ethical treatments of shelter dogs.

I've done a small bit of volunteer work for RPSM (a home visit) and I spread the word any chance I get to those I know who are considering pet adoption. Adopting a dog can, in all honesty be a dicey situation - you never really know what you will get. That is unless you go through RPSM. When you adopt an RPSM dog, you get one that has been temperament screened, trained (house and crate), has had a complete vet check, has been spayed/neutered up AND has a microchip. You will bring home the best friend you've been looking for.

I can't recommend Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan enough. Their hard work and dedication changes lives.

RPSM is the best ! They seriously care about the pets they rescue and adopt, and that love shows in the wonderufl animals and the happy people who adopt them. The prison program is fantastic, a definite win, Win, WIN for everyone. I highly recommend this program to anyone searching for a wonder new addition to their family, and wish that more people could foster and adopt rescue animals.

I have volunteered in a few ways for RPSM. They really do try everything to help as many animals as possible. They are actually taking in one of my mothers dogs into their prison program this week.

This group not only saves animals, but falls in live with each and every one. I have seen them at parades, festivals in town-they are always working hard to take care of them and find them all homes. They feature animals on Facebook as well to get the word out about the dogs and cats that need homes. This group works so hard, to do what they love-they are great people! It breaks my heart for these abandoned animals, but with this group of loving people they at least have a chance!

This is a great organization that serves the community not only by helping to save homeless dogs, but also by helping to rehabilitate prisoners. It is shown that this type of programs reduce violence and give the inmates skills they can use when they return to the outside world. In addition, the dog we received had a basic obedience training, another thing that reduces returns and makes for a safer community.

One of the few organizations I am aware of that is a "win" for all parties: the pets, the inmates and the new owners of the pets.

The costs are so minimal for such a positive effect.

I am so impressed with this organization. The work they do is life changing for so many of us in MI. I am very grateful for them.

RPSM does an amazing job at bringing rescued pets to forever homes. It is an all around win-win...for the inmates who get to train these wonderful pets, for the pets, and for the families who benefit from the work that RPSM does. My life has been completely changed for the better by RPSM!!!!

This group coordinates funds & animals and creates many positive 'fur-ever' relationships. I enjoy reading about the animals, helping when I can with donations & prayers, and encouraging those that do adopt. I don't live near the group, but my sister does. She adopted precious Raven more than two years ago, and she has been a wonderful addition to their family.

I am very please with the screening process RPSM does to find the very best and the most likely to succeed homes for these companions. We were matched up with a very nice dog and she fit into our family perfectly. She will be with us forever. It is only because of the time that the RPSM people took to match us up that this worked so well.

After taking in a homeless 5 month old puppy, I soon discovered the dog and my 12 year old cat were completely incompatible. I didn't want to abandon the dog, but, for the safety of the cat, couldn't keep it in my home. Faced with this dilemma, a friend recommended contacting Refurbished Pets of Southern Michigan. So I did, and from that very first contact, RPSM was wonderful in helping me find a positive solution to a difficult situation. The people in the RPSM organization understood the dog/cat problem and were quick to respond. Within a week's time, the puppy was temperament tested and given the opportunity to be housed with a caring volunteer and start the next prison/partner program. They were prompt in answering my many questions, they understood my concerns, they empathized with my feelings, and they were 100% solution-based in helping me find the best possible situation and future home for my dog. It was a pleasure working with RPSM, and I can't thank them enough for their kindness and compassion!

After the loss of our beloved Charlie (a white standard poodle) to cancer, I was sure the hole in my heart would never close. However, I went on line to RPSM and there was a litter of standards ready for adoption. Because of the timeliness of the posting, I could only rationalize my good fortune as angels sent from Charlie.....thus Bosley came into my life. Bosley is an apricot standard poodle and a true treasure. Anyone who comes in contact with him is immediately drawn to his hypnotic eyes and loving nature. All who get to know him, ask about him constantly.....he is unforgettable. I cannot thank RPSM enough for all the work and care they do for animals in need. I also cannot thank them enough for all the concern and deligence they demonstrate in the adoption procedures. They are top-notch!

We adopted our dog, Jordy, in August of this year for our 7 year old son. We were so excited to find a group that would take a dog with a good personality and put them through professional obedience training before sending them off to their new homes. This worked particularly well with us. We are experienced dog people but are at a busy time in our lives so bringing in a dog that knew the basics of obedience allowed my son to interact positively with Jordy as soon as he arrived. He still loves to show off Jordy's "skills" to anyone visiting the house. Even though Jordy had a few emotional scars from his early life, we have found that his obedience foundation has helped us work through this. I would also like to commend the community of volunteers working for RPSM. They are a fantastic group of people who truly care about the dogs and their new familites. The Facebook community is great and keeps the adopters connected with each other and their fosters. I love to read the updates on dogs I've never met but feel I know from hearing their stories and updates. I volunteered for other dog rescues for many years in another state but I can say that this group is special. The positive attitudes and sense of community is the best I have ever experienced. Jordy has not only touched our hearts but he has also helped bring our older dog, Buddy, out of his shell. Buddy was a severe abuse case who never really learned how to play. Jordy came in and was so well socialized that he quickly won Buddy over and taught him how to play for the first time in his 13 years. The two now entertain us with their antics and rough-housing. He's even won over our cat. I don't think he'd ever seen one before because he didn't seem to recognize the smell. But now the two curl up together on a dog bed and snooze. I credit the personality profiling and socialization done by RPSM for selecting such a sweet dog for inclusion in their program. Overall, we have been very happy with our new addition and I'd say he's pretty darn happy here. A great big thank you to all the dedicated RPSM volunteers. You have certainly made a difference in Jordy's life. Thank you for seeing somethig gspecial in him and bringing him to us. We love him dearly.

On May 5th, I lost my best fur-girlfriend, Thelma Jane to cancer. My two adoptees from RPSM, Penelope Louise "Penny" and Barkley LeRoy "Barkley" have helped soothe the pain of such a loss. Our family is grateful for all who played a part in this amazing journey to bring us all together. RPSM is the BEST rescue organization! These people have hearts bigger than their bodies. I can't thank them enough for the work they do, and for allowing "Sweet P" and "Barkles" to join our home.

I adopted a dog from RPSM earlier this year, and I couldn't be happier with him. Everyone thinks he is the nicest dog, and they're impressed by his training (he's also very beautiful!). We make sure to tell everyone where we got him, and we encourage them to look into adopting from RPSM as well--if they're thinking about adding a dog to their family. RPSM was always available--before and after the adoption--to answer questions and concerns and offer help. They are invested in finding great homes for their dogs and ensuring that the match between dog and family is perfect.

Our hearts were broken from loosing a much loved dog when we first learned of RPSM. The process was intense and smooth all at the same time. We believe this process is why they have such a great success rate. All the way up till we met our dog we learned about him through detailed updates provided by the inmates/trainers through RPSM. This. Helped us to bond with him before we met him. They described him in such great detail. We met him and fell hard. He is the calmest and sweetest dog we have ever owned. Our hearts have healed with the help of all the people and this lovable character Buckley from RPSM. I recommend them happily and constantly.

I was fortunate to adopt a RPSM dog, Jax. He is so well behaved, trained and so cute. This group not only rescues dog from unhealthy places, trains them at a local prison, but adopts them out to only those families that are suited for their dogs. The prisoners who train the dogs are so attached to them and they bond with them while teaching them the basics as well extra fun tricks. I love my dog and appreciate and support RPSM for the work that they do on a daily basis. Thank you, RPSM!

As soon as I saw Teddy on your website, I was totally in love with this dog. Diane Anthony couldnt be nicer and helped me through the adoption process. Since I live 5 hours from RPSM, I couldnt do a at home interview, I sent Diane pictures of my home, and family for review, I had a phone interview with Teddy's foster Mom, Keri Ramirez, who couldnt have been nicer. When I got the phone call from Diane that we were approved and Teddy was ours, I think I cried. I drove that poor woman crazy with my emails and phone calls, but she was always a joy to work with. I tell everyone I know about your rescue and how wonderful it is. Teddy was too little for the prison program, but he was well behaved and housebroken from the day we got him. We have him since March and I couldnt imagine life without him. He is an amazing little guy!!! THANK YOU RPSM!!!!

RPSM brought a beautiful St Bernard into my wife and I's life. It is doubtful we will ever get a dog that is not through this organization. They were thorough, loving and nice making sure this big girl would fit with us, but also that we would fit with her.

My Mother was looking for a dog since hers had passed away. I found a dog for her through this group and the dog and my Mother are great together. This group is a good group that not only helps the dogs but also the people in prison too. The dogs can than be placed in homes and have basic training needs completed. Wonderful program.

After losing my previous dog Riley to kidney failure a friend suggested i look at petfinders on the net. I started just casualing looking and thinking about a new dog and the void the loss had left in my life. I really missed having someone around to talk to and needed that. I first started looking at the same breed as Riley was but new it would just remind me of Riley and i couldnt deal with that so i started looking at other breeds. Thats when Harley came into view and as i read the story telling me about him and that someone had used a ball bat on him tears formed in my eyes. I realized he was meant to be with me. Though it seemed like forever from start to finish it really was just a short time and all things came together and Harley and i seem to be made for each other. What an experience and what a great dog i have, thanks to everyone at Refurbished pets.

This group of people have only one thing on their mind and that is to help all these wonderful fur-kids enjoy a happy and safe life, no telling where they came from or where they have been, the guys at Lakeland take them under their wings and give them love and support so they can go in peace to their forever homes. The foster families can take a bow because without them what would we do. Want to thank the whole team from the Refurbished Pets of Southern Mich. Continue what your doing your in our hearts.

We lost our Sterling very unexpectedly. Our lives were in great sorrow. My husband says "we need to get a new dog, right now". So Internet searching we went! We stumbled upon RPSM and learned about their exciting work with the dogs and the inmates. We knew we wanted to be a part of this movement! We located an extremely high energy mix breed dog, Biscuit. Boy, were we surprised by just how much energy he had! He was, indeed, a handful! However, the volunteers were very supportive and encouraging. They provided us with resources to get through this difficult stage of puppydom. Well, we made it!!! Biscuit still has tremendous energy, but he has settled into our home routines and is a devoted "family" member. My husband teases him and says that biscuit would be 'soap', without the support of the RPSM volunteers and his foster Mom!

If you are looking for a four legged member to add to your family you can't go wrong with adopting through RPSM. We adopted from them a month ago now and we couldn't be happier with our new little man Tommy. The two biggest perks with adopting from them is you get a very well trained socialized and secure dog. The second is that you are supporting an amazing program linked up with the correctional facility. How cool is that! I love telling our story and I all ready have someone close to me when they get a house with a yard they are going to look into adopting from RPSM.

I have been involved with dog rescue in Ohio for over 15 years, then I met RPSM. I have been so impressed with the total dedication this group has exhibited. After loosing my two elder mini poodles, my daughter went searching for a standard poodle to keep our one company and found RPSM. This group of volunteers is by far the best I've seen in a long time. From the first person I had phone contact with, to the foster mom and all the other volunteers in between, they have all shown us what a kind and caring devoted rescue group they are. I adopted a 12 week old puppy that already knew his basic commands and was almost totally potty trained by his foster mom.. Nile still remembers the strong start he got in life by showing his kind, loving heart and willingness to please. They have the dogs best interest in mind and work to thoroughly check out adoption applicants. Even my references told me what nice people they were interviewed by! I can't say enough about all the wonderful things RPSM has done -- all with the animals best interest in mind. I have recommended them to all my circle of friends and will continue to do so. It was well worth the 5 1/2 hour drive to meet RPSM members and pick up our new pup. Thanks to them, more dogs have a wonderful opportunity to have a better life.

We adopted our dog thru RPSM this summer. We were very impressed at how detailed the application was. To us it indicated the caring nature of the group and the commitment to placing dogs in good homes. RPSM volunteers contacted our vet and several personal references and a volunteer came to our home to see our back yard to make sure we did have a fence. This process moved quickly, I believe it was less than a week. Upon approval, we began receiving weekly reports from the inmates that were training our dog, sharing with us info about her progress. Each week we eagerly awaited the report and the anticipation of our new furry friend finally coming home grew. Questions we had were quickly answered. We had many.... they were all happily answered without delay. Finally adoption arrived....our contact person welcomed us and made us feel very comfortable as we had our first interaction with our new pet. She talked with us and covered all the info the inmates had sent about our dog. She gave us time to consider if this was in fact the dog we wanted and we did want to adopt her. We didn't feel rushed or hurried at all. We signed the papers and off we went to begin our new adventure with our new dog by our side. Our dog's foster mom stays in contact with us and is happy to answer questions that have come up since we brought our dog home. The whole process was delightful! We are so thankful we came across RPSM on line.... I have recommended them over and over to others who are looking for a pet. We have a wonderful dog that we are so happy with. She came to us trained by the inmates.... but we were not trained. Over time we have learned about our sweet dog and she has learned about us... We can see the start she had with the inmates has helped her so much. She is a wonderful dog, and she just gets better and better with time. We are so thankful for her and for caring RPSM volunteers and trainers. They are a dedicated group of hard working people that love dogs and want to see them have good homes.

I can not think of a better way to get positive results from people trying to change their lives as well as animals needing loving homes. Absolutly amazing what you guys do!

My name is Michael Johnson I own/operate All Paws Up! LLC. I also train dogs at Petco. I train basic, advanced obedience, and trix. I specialize in training dogs that most trainers wont touch because of their background/behavioral issues. This being said I used to be an inmate! Yes R.P.S.M. provided me access to the education and experience to make a new life for myself. Since Ive been in the dog business I have had alot of contact with rescue groups. I find many that their primary concern is the almighty dollar. They then go onto place dogs in homes without doing home checks etc. These dogs ultimately end up being returned or worse. This simply does not happen with R.P.S.M. They do their homework plus some. I am very critical when it comes to dogs. My opinion is an educated and skilled one. I dont hand out "freebies" because I have a past with this group. Ive done it for the dogs since day one. I can remember when this group first started as individuals. They have since become an awesome TEAM and deserve all the "kuddos" in the world. I not only like this group i LOVE them and will support any endevor they shall choose. Sincerely, Michael Johnson/All Paws Up! LLC

The only animal shelter that saves humans as well as animals. The inmate trainers learn to receive and give unconditional love. The skills they learn in the process of training are invaluable and will serve them for a lifetime. The dog learns love and discipline--it's a win -win situation

Volunteering for a 100% non profit organization that rehibilitaes not only unwanted, death row dogs, and prisoners that train them and enable the dogs to be adopted is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life! This program does not cost our taxpayers a dime. It is funded by fundraisers, grants, and wonderful donations. The adopters of the trained dogs are thoroughly questioned to ensure provided our well trained, totally vetted dogs a forever home. Far too many dogs are euthanized yearly due to many reasons that are superficial at most. The dogs, after being trained are wonderful and the inmates doing the training find emotions that they never knew in their lifetime. A win-win program for all concerned.