128. Smells Like More Than Just The Dogs Got Rescued - With Special Guest Jon Grobman

Here's a major change of pace to bring a little springtime to your soul in this weird winter of our discontent - a stirring story of human redemption through the beauty of giving to, and caring for, other living beings -  which, in turn, redeems and restores  the lives of humans who find in themselves in the most dire of circumstances.  Jon Grobman, in his own estimation, was not a good person in 2005 when he was sentenced to six separate 25 years-to-life terms plus 40 years in prison (that's a total of 190 years-to-life if you're counting), all for repeat non-violent offenses.  Faced at a still-young age with the inevitability of dying in prison, Jon looked at the totality of what his life had been up to that point and decided that no matter what, he was going to spend the rest of his life in service to others.  This decision eventually led him on a path that brought him to Alex Tonner, a passionate advocate of canine rescue - and with the support of prison authorities, helped Jon start a prison program to save and train dogs for adoption.  Starting slowly, Paws for Life K9 Rescue grew into an amazing program.  Today, Paws for Life operates in three maximum security prisons in California, training dozens of dogs for home adodption as well as for adoption by law enforcement agenciesd, disabled veterans and as service animals for those in need.  The program gives meaning and hope to some of the most hopelessly situated inmates - many of whom are "lifers" whose lives have been rescued by working with dogs whose lives they, the prisoners, are changing changing with love and caring.  An amazing gift to the humans and the dogs alike.  In 2018, as a result of his work with Paws for Life, Jon became the very first life-sentenced inmate in California to receive a Recall of Commitment from  the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Since his release, his commitment to Paws for Life remains strong - as Director of Programs for the organization, he's found his mission in life - he continues to work with the prisoners to train, care for, and work with Alex Tonner and her team to make sure that each animal finds a loving, "forever" home.  When Melissa and Producer Mark lost their two beloved dogs in 2019, they wondered if they'd ever find another canine companion - and then, almost by accident, they came across an adoption fair hosted by Paws for Life at a local pet store, where they met Jon, Alex...and their newly-adopted one year-old Belgian Malinois rescue, Siren Marie, whose puppy energy drives them nuts but whose beauty and love makes them so grateful that they found her - and that Jon Grobman and Paws for Life K9 Rescue were there to save her for them.  Listen in as Melissa spends some quality time with Jon to hear his story and discuss the broader issues of the importance of making decisions  to improve our lives, sentencing reform and just being our best possible selves.