Rodrix Brooks, a 27-year-old former Western student, plays with dogs at the Warren County Animal Shelter while their cages are being cleaned out.

“I guess it’s like us inmates, the misconception, people think we’re more aggressive than we really are,” Brooks said.

Brooks is a part of a program that gives state inmates convicted of class D felonies and sentenced to less than five years a chance to work for the Bowling Green community. Brooks was brought into Warren County Regional Jail last November and had his first day of work at the shelter Wednesday. Until his release, he will spend every day going to the shelter at 8 a.m. and spend eight hours cleaning the cages, feeding the animals and walking the dogs.

“At first I was skeptical about coming out here, but now I understand . it’s a lot more work than one would think . but it’s worth it,” Brooks said. “These are underprivileged animals that no one really wants at the moment, but hopefully they’ll be able to get a family . a place to go, someone to care for them.

Brooks describes himself as an animal lover.

“I have four dogs . I did, I don’t have them anymore.”