Joe Denti spent more than three decades behind bars, but it was the wagging tails and wet noses of shelter dogs that helped him turn the page. As a longtime participant in Missouri’s Puppies for Parole program, Denti trained and rehabilitated rescue dogs, giving them a second chance—and finding healing himself in the process.
The program not only helped thousands of dogs find forever homes, but also gave Joe the tools to start over. After his release, he began training to become a registered veterinary technician, using a scholarship from the program’s sponsor, Royal Canin. Today, he works in a local clinic, caring for the kinds of animals who once helped care for him. And at home, one special rescue pup from the program—his dog Cookie—reminds him daily how far they’ve both come.