Natalie Portman Adopts Rescued Prison Dog In Modern Cinderella Story

By J. Swanson

Not so long ago, Sunday was just another homeless dog living in a California shelter. Now the fluffy white canine has become Hollywood’s latest rags-to-riches tale.

The pup’s first big break came when she was scouted by Paws for Life K9 Rescue, a non-profit that pairs shelter pooches with inmates throughout the California State Prison system to help improve the dog’s socialization. “We do this because they can dedicate all of their time to their rehabilitation,” the organization wrote online of the inmates, who also benefit emotionally from having a dog in their care.

After a few months of training, the shelter pups are ready to take their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), a behavioral certification test that confirms whether or not they’re “family-ready,” according to Paws for Life’s website.

This improves their odds of charming would-be adopters, thereby improving their odds of finding forever families. Some doggie graduates even undergo additional training to become service animals for veterans suffering from PTSD. “By lowering euthanasia rates and preparing dogs for service-jobs, PFL is proving that everyone deserves a second chance,” rescuers wrote.

Sunday’s second big break came when the actress Natalie Portman heard about Paws for Life’s life-saving program.

“So grateful to all the people @pawsforlifek9 who trained Sunday, the newest addition to our family!” the actor, vegan, and vocal animal advocate wrote on her Instagram page. “Paws for Life is a prison dog training program for PTSD service dogs and CGC certified adoptable dogs. I saw first-hand how their program is healing for both the trainer and dog.”

So just like that, Sunday went from homeless shelter to the newest member of one of Hollywood’s leading families, which already includes a fur sibling called Penny! It’s a furry Cinderella story for the ages and — judging from the gleeful comments on Portman’s Instagram page — very possible that animal rescue becomes Hollywood’s next big trend!

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J. Swanson
J. Swanson is a writer, traveler, and animal-enthusiast based in Seattle, an appropriately pet-crazed city where dog or cat ownership even outweighs the number of kids. When the weather permits, she likes to get outside and explore the rest of the Pacific Northwest, always with a coffee in hand.
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