Is the Monroe County Detention Center meant to serve as a jail for people or a rescue center for animals? Why not both! The Stock Island Detention Center located in the Florida Keys has been acting as a safe haven for abandoned and unwanted animals.

When the Detention Center building was constructed, it was made in order to survive a category five hurricane due to the fact that it is located in Florida where there is a high rate of hurricane storms. The Stock Island Detention Center began acting as a home for animals in danger in 1994 due to a group of Sheriffs rescuing a group of Muscovy ducks and chickens from a nearby golf course.

The Muscovy ducks and chickens were constantly being hit and killed by on-coming cars racing down the main street to get to the Detention Center itself. Shortly thereafter, other flocks and groups of ducks and chickens began finding a safe haven underneath the Detention Center facility due to the fact that the Center was built on stilts to survive hurricanes.

After the ducks and chickens got comfortable, the Detention Center received a call from the SPCA in Miami to see if they had room for a blind horse that was abandoned. The sheriffs and staff of the Center and the faculty could not say no. Some people who were serving time at the Center and also staff members helped build a pen for the blind horse. The rescuing of this horse, now named Angel, was when the animal farm started to bloom.

Since 1994, the animal farm of the Stock Island Detention Center has grown to the point where it is open to the public on certain days free of charge. People can spend time with the animals and even feed them.

Some of the animals they rescued and are currently taking care of are four African Spurred tortoises, a family of Patagonian Cavies, an albino python, horses, pigs, goats, chickens, birds, rabbits, llamas, and an alligator. All of these animals have been rescued from abusive homes or simply donated from people who struggle to have the time or the materials to care for the animal.

Two of the large African Spurred tortoises that found a place to call home at the Center were rescued from Colorado where the two tortoises were found inside of a drug house.

In addition, the albino python at the Center was found in someone’s car along with several other animals that were in poor condition and were all in dangerous health states. A man was trying to make money off of these animals until the Detention Center was notified and immediately took action. Currently, the albino python and other animals found in the heated car were treated and are all living safely and happily in the Center.

The animal farm at the Detention Center is one way the citizens are able to interact with  and experience exotic animals face-to-face.

In addition to the community involvement, the animal farm also gives the inmates of the Center a sense of responsibility and importance because it is their job to care for the animals by making sure they have food, water, a clean area to roam, and simple animal care. The safe haven for animals is a great way to get the people who are serving in the Detention Center to have fun and have quality time with the outside world, like their one-on-one interaction with animals, that they usually would not get the chance to experience otherwise.

Currently, the Stock Island Detention Center holds 150 animals and 596 prisoners. The number of rescued animals finding shelter in the Center is increasing year after year. The staff of sheriffs and faculty members at the Center are making a difference in both the inmates’ and animals’ lives.

Mike Hentz, Key West Citizen photographer