In Memory of Bae Bae and Imp
Bae Bae and Imp were two sweet, spirited Jack Russells who spent years as faithful companions to Cammie, a young woman who grew up in our neighborhood. After being arrested on a minor charge, Cammie was devastated to learn that while she was in jail, her boyfriend’s parents had called animal control — and within just a few days, both dogs were euthanized.
Their story is a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be lost in systems that lack grace, patience, and advocacy. It’s also one of the reasons Just Paws was created.
Every pet deserves to be protected, even when their owner can’t be present. As part of our mission, Just Paws steps in so stories like that of Bae Bae and Imp are not repeated.
We provide dogs with a safe, structured environment while their owners work toward reentry, healing, and hope — keeping the door open for reunion and restoration.
Bae Bae and Imp — always loved, never forgotten.
just a pause, not a goodbye
Just Paws is a faith-rooted canine care initiative within the STRIVUS residential program that provides healing through connection — for both our participants and the animals they serve. Each dog in the program belongs to someone currently incarcerated, awaiting reunion.
Residents of Strivus take responsibility for their care, training, and emotional well-being, building discipline and compassion for both along the way.
It’s more than a safe shelter. It’s stewardship. It’s giving a second chance while our residents build their own.
For the men and women in our program, Just Paws is an animal therapy — to develop awareness, responsibility, and purpose. For the dogs, it’s a safe and nurturing home while their true owner does the same.
Our aim is to reunite the dogs with their owners when possible. Because for all of them, this isn’t goodbye ~
It’s just a pause and serves a just cause..
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TRAINER CERTIFICATION
Through Just Paws, STRIVUS residents also have the opportunity to earn a dog training certification, equipping them with real-world skills that extend beyond the program. This certification not only builds confidence and employability, but it reinforces patience, communication, and community responsibility — qualities essential to both personal growth and professional success. Graduates leave with more than recovery; they leave with credentials, purpose, and a proven ability to nurture something beyond themselves.
DOG CERTIFICATION
Select dogs within Just Paws may also be evaluated and trained for service dog certification, allowing our four-legged residents to move forward with a mission of their own. Just as our participants work toward restoration, these dogs are prepared to become emotional support or service companions for individuals in need — including veterans, trauma survivors, and others facing life-altering challenges. It’s a double redemption story: both handler and hound stepping into a new identity with purpose, discipline, and heart.
when a dog cannot be reunited with its owner....
In cases where a dog cannot return home to its owner they will be paired with a veteran or other trauma survivor who can provide a proper residence. Dogs are rehomed only as an alternative. Each case is evaluated individually to determine the best fit and applications are required from potential new owners. Rehoming Assessments include service needs match with training, relationship connection, home environment, ability for proper care....and other eligibilities.
when a dog is in our care....
Just Paws rescues dogs from abandonment or kill shelters due to owner incarceration. While in our care, each dog will receive health evaluations by a licensed veterinarian, updated vaccinations, individual care and training. All costs associated with the dogs in our care are the responsibility of this internal initiative program within STRIVUS.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE...
Disclaimer: While we strive to accept all eligible dogs into the Just Paws program, we reserve the right to decline intake based on space limitations, behavioral risk, medical concerns, or other factors that may affect the safety or integrity of the program. In such cases, we are committed to locating a safe and suitable alternative through our network of trusted partners or foster families. No dog will be left without care or placed in harm’s way.
How you can Partner with us and help
support our mission...
DONATE
Just Paws relies on the generosity of donors, grant funding, and the creativity of our own hands to keep the mission alive. Our program is sustained through financial contributions, donations, and proceeds from WE WOOD, a network partner that handles the management and sale of handcrafted, resident-built doghouses — each one a symbol of restoration, responsibility, and new beginnings. Every donation and every doghouse sold helps feed, shelter, and train a dog in transition while equipping a person in recovery with skills, confidence, and hope. When you give to STRIVUS , you’re not just funding a program — you’re building a bridge between brokenness and belonging, one paw at a time.
VOLUNTEER
Want to make a difference in the life of a dog whose owner is working toward a second chance? Just Paws is always in need of compassionate foster homes. When space at our facility is limited — or when a dog needs a quieter or more individualized setting — our volunteer fosters step in to provide safety, love, and stability. Fostering can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and we provide guidance and support every step of the way. By opening your home, you’re not just saving a dog — you’re helping a family stay connected and whole.