JEFFERSON CITY − Just last year, a former offender was serving his 34th year in the Jefferson City Correctional Center, but now he’s out and helping to serve his community.
The nonprofit Puppies for Parole allows selected offenders to train rescue dogs in collaboration with animal shelters and animal advocate groups statewide.
“Joe Denti is a handler who was huge even in the beginning of Puppies for Parole,” said program coordinator Jennifer Liebi.
Denti was released in November, and he said the experience was very emotional.
Denti was incarcerated when he was 16 years old and left the correctional facility when he was 50. He said he grew up with the other inmates and people in the Puppies for Parole program.
“They’re family to me, and it’s kind of an emotional roller coaster,” Denti said. “It’s joyful to come back and see them, but I know at the end of the day I’ll have to …