PBS documentary emphasizes the value of the K-9 accompanying program

Dogs are more than just sweet, cozy and curious.

The best friend of humans can also help the inmates to realize that they can change.

The strong connection between dogs and inmates and the positive effects they have on each other recently became “nothing safe”, a documentary that is now on PBS.org and the PBS -app streaming.

The film underlines the K-9 accompanying program, which was trained in prison, which started in 2002 in the Colorado Women's Correctional Facility in Cañon City and has been extended to six institutions since then. The Colorado Correctional Industries program offers two important services: the training initiative for dogs privately owned and the adoption of trained rescue dogs.

Michele Wayland, the program manager of the K9 accompanying program trained by the prison since February 2019, said there was a specific documentary scene that noticed it.

“I found the interview with Denise Presson particularly powerful because it showed that someone who had essentially gave up and has hope of experiencing such a dramatic and positive turn by participating in the K9 program,” said Wayland, who himself took part in the documentation. “She expressed the value and purpose that she existed and inspired her to be a better mother for her child. In a much broader sense, it has a feeling of self -worth and the desire to help others by sharing her experiences.”

In the documentary, which was shot in January 2024, Wayland described how the initiative was created. She also informed more details about the program with the daily recording.

“Many years ago, Debi Stevens, the founder of the program, visited the animal shelter to choose a dog for the program,” she said. “She invited me to attend a nearby correctional facility in which inmates trained dogs to give me an overview of the program. When the position after her retirement was available, I was a rare opportunity to use my experience with animal shelter management in a meaningful way.”

She said the experience of the documentary was deeply moving and is grateful that more people now know how advantageous the program is.

“The filmmakers were great to work and made the process very natural and liquid,” she said. “You did a fantastic job to record and illustrate the various aspects of our program how you all have connected and positively influenced all lives.”

The documentary was praised at the second annual Pueblo Film Festival, which showed 55 films this year. On the weekend of April 26, the film received Colorado Lt., according to a press release, Colorado Lt. Governor the best cultural heritage price.

The film was also selected for the demonstration at the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

To see the documentary that was first broadcast on Rocky Mountain PBS in March, visit

Further information on the K-9 accompanying program trained by prison can be found at cci.colorado.gov/k9

Originally published: May 6, 2025 at 9:46 a.m. MDT