life ENCOUNTERS
Dedicated to Dogs
THE PATH FROM INCARCERATION TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. BY MADELEINE LEROUX · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
T
rey Dawson never planned
for the Puppies for Parole program,
Corrections. He returned to Columbia,
on working with dogs.
which gives offenders the opportunity
where he applied at In2Action, a local
The owner and lead
to become trainers to rescue dogs. And
organization that provides transitional
trainer for Backyard K9
though he didn’t expect it, he found a
and recovery support for those released
had grown up with dogs and certainly
real purpose, ultimately becoming the
from prison or at risk of incarceration.
been around them, but he never really
lead dog trainer for the Algoa program.
“I didn't know what I was going to do,”
trained them or sought them out. In
“A lot of these dogs, this is their second,
he recalls. “For the first time in my life, I
fact, the path to founding Backyard K9
third, fourth chance, and that’s what’s
wasn't weighed down by addiction.” He
had quite a few bumps.
so special about Puppies for Parole.
went to his new bed and sat down with
It’s not only a dog that’s working with
his Bible, but he was quickly and quietly
Dawson is a Columbia native
“
A lot of these dogs, this is their second, third, fourth chance, and that’s what’s so special about Puppies for Parole. It’s not only a dog that’s working with an inmate, but it’s the inmate that’s working with a dog. A lot of these guys have never had that unconditional love that a dog supplies. but he left the area years ago and
an inmate, but it’s the inmate that’s
joined by the house dog, Jobe, who
substance abuse issues led to his being
working with a dog. A lot of these guys
stayed with Dawson through the night.
incarcerated. He ultimately spent time
have never had that unconditional love
“I knew the next day that I was right
in 27 different jails across 12 states,
that a dog supplies. It just gives people
where I was supposed to be.”
returning to Columbia in 2013. But
a purpose,” Dawson says. “These dogs
his substance abuse continued, and
are basically unadoptable … and our
dog park, where he would talk to other
he was incarcerated with the Missouri
job was just to kind of make these dogs
people and give tips on how to train
Department of Corrections, where he
adoptable, and just produce a really
their dogs. Soon enough, people were
began his work with dogs.
socialized, good dog.”
encouraging him to start a formal dog
While at Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Dawson decided to apply
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INSIDE COLUMBIA MAY/JUNE 2022
On Christmas Day 2019, Dawson was released from the Department of
Dawson began to take Jobe to a local
training business, and Backyard K9 was born. Dawson says the key to training
