MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The bond between Moose Jaw’s police dogs and their handlers is heading to television in a documentary series that follows their lives together, from training exercises and police calls to the daily care that keeps each partnership strong.
The Canine Unit, a three-episode series from Regina-based Prairie Cat Productions, is being made for Citytv Saskatchewan with support from Creative Saskatchewan, said director, producer and company owner Lucas Frison.
Filming brought a crew to the alley west of city hall Oct. 21, prompting a temporary closure announced by the city. Frison said the crew was shooting a re-creation with a police dog and handler, with interviews to explain the events being depicted.
The production combines those accounts of past cases with footage of the Moose Jaw Police Service’s (MJPS) canine teams at work today.
“We’re filming some real-world stuff with them on the job,” Frison said.
The series features Const. Curtis Amiot and police service dog (PSD) Draco, Const. Casey Lea and PSD Mace, and Const. Aaron Woods and his recently retired partner, PSD True. It also explores Woods and True’s past work together and True’s life in retirement.
Some of the most revealing moments, Frison said, have come from following the teams beyond police calls. The crew has joined them for training sessions, school visits, community activities and veterinary appointments, capturing the time and care officers invest in their canine partners.
“You really get to see the bond between the handler and the dog and how close they are. They’re basically spending almost 24 hours of the day together,” Frison said.
Amiot described how that shared life supports the teams’ work in an earlier interview before September’s national canine trials.
“We see, feed, and spend time with our dogs every day. They are a part of our lives and our families’ lives. The bond, trust, and support we have is the foundation of our success as a team,” Amiot said.
The documentary crew also followed the trials in Saskatoon, where handlers and police dogs from across Canada gathered in September.
Moose Jaw’s teams earned three top-four finishes: Amiot and Draco placed second in compound search and fourth in the Iron Dog competition, while Lea and Mace finished third in article and evidence search.
Those skills support their everyday duties in Moose Jaw, where canine teams help frontline officers track suspects, search buildings and outdoor areas, locate discarded evidence and make arrests. In a case reported Feb. 19, 2021, PSD True helped officers apprehend a suspect who allegedly fled a stolen vehicle and was found hiding in a backyard, according to the MJPS canine unit’s Twitter account.
For Frison, documenting the preparation behind that work has given him a new appreciation of the dogs’ abilities — something he hopes to share with audiences.
“Just seeing what they can do up close and personal, witnessing the kind of intense training and just how smart the animals are, has been really eye-opening for me,” Frison said. “I don’t think [many viewers have] seen dogs like this — highly trained and working dogs — in these work scenarios up close and personal, like we’re capturing.”
The series began with an idea Frison brought to the MJPS a couple of years ago, finding an enthusiastic response from the people whose working lives he hoped to document.
“They were immediately on board and interested, which was fantastic news for me, and just the start of a good partnership there,” he said.
Frison then sought a broadcaster, eventually securing interest from Citytv Saskatchewan, although moving from the initial pitch to production required patience.
“Getting a documentary project, or any film and TV project, off the ground takes a long time. It can be slow moving at times for a number of reasons,” he said.
Production is now approximately 80 per cent complete. Further interviews and filming are planned for November as Frison and his editor identify any additional material needed.
The project also brings familiar local talent behind the camera. Director of photography Jeremy Ratzlaff is based in Moose Jaw, where his previous work includes directing a commercial with Jared Robinson showcased during the Centre for Arts and Culture’s 20th-anniversary celebration.
Ratzlaff previously handled cinematography on Prairie Cat Productions’ documentary series We Were Broncos, which follows Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Ryan Straschnitzki’s pursuit of parasports. The company’s other documentaries include Humboldt: The New Season.
Frison said Moose Jaw’s historic backdrops and welcoming community have made it an appealing filming location, and he would look forward to returning for another project. He also credited the police service’s co-operation with helping make the series possible.
“It’s something that I really hope people will latch onto when it comes out,” Frison said.
The Canine Unit could air on Citytv Saskatchewan in spring 2027, although the broadcaster has not set dates. Frison said the initial release will be on television; subsequent streaming availability has not yet been confirmed.
To learn more about Prairie Cat Productions, visit PrairieCatProductions.com.
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