LANSING — The Michigan Department of Corrections has released its newest “Dogs of the MDOC” calendar, a yearly tradition that highlights dogs trained and cared for by inmates inside state prisons. The calendars sell out quickly, and as of Dec. 9, the department has the item marked as “low stock.”
“It features all dogs that have been raised in prison. I think it’s pretty cool,” MDOC Director Heidi Washington told Capital News Service. She and other department leaders say they look forward to the release every year.
The program that makes the calendar possible is more than a decade old. Since 2009, MDOC has partnered with Paws with a Cause, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Ability Centers and local shelters to offer basic obedience training for more than 3,000 dogs. Twenty-five dog programs are currently active across 20 prisons.
“A lot of our staff, myself included, ended up adopting dogs out of the program,” Washington said. She adopted a German shepherd named Lamar in 2017, he was featured in the 2023 calendar before he passed away.
This year’s lineup includes Debbie, a chihuahua who now has a forever home after being cared for by an inmate before adoption. New entries also include Franklin and Handel, MDOC’s wellness dogs featured in September for National Suicide Prevention Month.
Department staff review more than 100 submissions every year to choose the featured dogs.
“Some of that is, are they high-resolution? Are they going to be able to be printed well? And, obviously, are they super cute?” said Jenni Riehle, MDOC’s public information and communications officer.
Calendars are priced at $10, with all proceeds going to the MDOC Employee Engagement Fund which supports staff dealing with crises, tragedies, and contributes to veterans’ causes. For the first time, prisoners will also be allowed to purchase the calendar because staples have been removed from the binding.
The department says the project strengthens relationships between staff, shelters, and the incarcerated individuals who train the animals.
“It’s also helping our prisoners have pride in their work and a sense of purpose in their lives, as they’re on their journey to reintegrate into our communities,” Riehle said.
The 2026 Dogs of the MDOC Calendar can be purchased through this link right here: https://mdoc-epic.square.site/product/2026-mdoc-dog-calendar/TPVC3CJ7INV6AW37PMH2TRBA?cs=true&cst=custom
Those interested are encouraged to order quickly due to limited availability.
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