At the Women’s Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado, the prison-trained K9 companion program (PTKCP) offers humans and canines a second chance. Since its inception in 2002, the initiative has expanded to six facilities throughout Colorado’s prison system, where each location matches dogs in need of training with qualified inmates, who work with them on house and crate training, socialization, and basic obedience.
Two options are available: an intensive 8-12-week boarding-in-training for privately owned pups and a training program for pre-adoptive shelter dogs. PTKCP also collaborates with several nonprofit organizations to prepare candidates as service animals. Both Freedom Service Dogs and Canine Companions place these specially-trained “prison” dogs with individuals who have disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and others in need of assistance animals.
The selection process of matching an inmate with a specific dog is highly specific. First, inmates who apply for the program must have no history of animal abuse, be non-violent offenders, demonstrate good behavior, and have a sentence long enough to provide continuity in the training process. Each candidate must submit a formal application and be interviewed by prison counselors and case managers before being accepted. The dogs are also pre-vetted and scrutinized for temperament, trainability, and social behavior, as well as overall health, age, and adaptability to new environments.
Once selected, each inmate is paired with their own canine based on compatibility, and they begin living and training together 24/7. Their structured daily routine consists of feeding, grooming, and exercising their pup. Training sessions are mandatory and include learning basic obedience and socialization skills. And when evening comes, both student and teacher retreat to their shared cell area, where they bunk together as roommates.
The upside is the crucial bonding that takes place over the course of a few months to a year. The downside is saying goodbye. But, despite the heartbreak of losing a partner, many inmates feel a level of confidence and self-worth and are ready to take on another dog in need.
For the imprisoned, it’s redemption; for the canine, it’s rehabilitation. For both, it’s a chance to make a difference in each other’s lives.
For more information about the Prison-Trained K-9 Companion Training Program in Canon City, or to apply, email DOC K9program@state.co.us, call 719-269-4650, or visit their office Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
