I first had the idea for this story in 2019, when I learned about the partnership between the Animal Welfare Society and the Maine Correctional Center. It was over a year until everything fell into place and I could begin photographing.

Eight puppies from rural Mississippi were on their way to the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, where they would be cared for, before beginning training at the prison. I watched the pups, all given names starting with the letter G, get accustomed to their new surroundings. The one whose tag said Gilligan stood out among the others. He was calmer than the others, and he was smart. In fact, he kept untying my shoelaces, and then giving me the adorable puppy stare.

On my first visit to the prison in Windham, it was no surprise that Gilligan was already a favorite among the trainers and staff. He had a new name, Everest, and he had grown considerably. He was paired with a trainer who shared many of his traits: Tim Riley, a big guy with a tough shell, but a calm gentleness and determined focus, who had experience training dogs.

I visited the prison several more times over the next six weeks to photograph the training sessions, and focused on Everest, Riley and co-trainer Michael Gagne. Everest, a quick learner, excelled with the trainers and was selected for the adoption of a family with an autistic child.

These images represent my best work from the story, illustrating a few of the significant moments that were shared between the puppies and the trainers. I love the image of Gagne holding up his “paws” while playing with one of the puppies after a training session, and the image of Tim, who became emotional and could not watch as Everest was led out of the prison on his last day.

I feel incredibly fortunate that I was given the opportunity to tell this story with my photographs, given the time, and encouraged by photo editor Michele McDonald to stay with it. I am grateful for the access allowed to me by the animal shelter and the prison.

I wanted to show the connection we have with animals and the healing that can be realized through those relationships. The puppies also connect the prisoners who train them with the world outside.

I was extremely fortunate that Megan Gray, a compassionate and talented writer, joined me to work on the story.