Congratulations to the 17 Can Do Canines teams who received diplomas on Saturday, February 18 in recognition of graduating from Can Do Canines assistance dog program. Each assistance dog was provided free of charge due to the generous support of our donors. The Graduation Ceremony represents the culmination of a long journey for the assistance dogs and their partners. Beginning with puppy raisers, either in the homes of volunteers or at one of four Minnesota prisons, the dogs are raised and taught basic obedience and early assistance dog skills. After 18 months, they are returned to Can Do Canines for …
Archives for February 2017
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Helping People During Seizures
Lisa Peterson wasn’t sure about getting a dog. “Yes, that’s his favorite thing to do,” Lisa said, as she threw a ball up for Morrie – her Can Do Canine assistance dog – to catch. Now, she proudly shows off pictures because she can’t imagine life without Morrie. “My kids basically lost their Mom for ten years and my husband lost his wife and best friend,” Lisa said. In 2006, Lisa suffered a traumatic brain injury. In an instant, her short-term memory was foggy, she had trouble speaking, and she couldn’t work. She also started having seizures, over 40 a …
WCCO | Assistance Dogs Graduate From Can Do Canines Program
WCCO 4 News came out to film our 2017 Winter Graduation on Saturday, February 18. Thank you to Liz Collin for sharing our Graduation with your Minnesota viewers! Our next Graduation Ceremony will take place at our facility in New hope on Saturday, June 10 at 1 p.m. All are welcome to join our celebration and no RSVP is required. Watch WCCO’s coverage here.
Boosting Stamina with Vinnie
Kerry Houts & Mobility Assist Dog Vinnie By: Jake Grossman Before getting in touch with Can Do Canines, Kerry Houts never dreamed that an assistance dog might help her lead a comfortable and healthy life. “When I was growing up,” she said, “A service dog was only for people with visual impairments. Kerry has lived with cerebral palsy since birth. The neurological condition impairs her balance and she often uses a cane or walking stick to get around. With age and the onset of arthritis, falls became more common for Kerry, who realized that she could use some extra …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Living with a New Purpose
Natalie Regenscheid is the happiest she’s ever been. She works for the state and is also a personal trainer. “With my disability, it’s easy to blend in and no one has to know and they leave me alone,” Regenscheid said. Natalie was born with a severe hearing loss. She wears aids and has learned to read lips, so for years, she just blended in. Until she got Nadia, a Hearing Assistance Dog from Can Do Canines. Then, she started to hear it – the questions. “Well, you hear me just fine, you don’t need a dog. I said – well, …
Kati’s New Downward Dog
Kati Hammar & Mobility Assist Dog Vegas By: Emma Hage Several months ago, Kati Hammar of Plymouth, Minn. was struggling with everyday activities. Her disabilities have made it difficult to walk long distances, so she often requires a wheelchair or crutches. Household chores are strenuous, and participating in her hobbies can be exhausting. Fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and a combination of other chronic diseases have made daily life uncomfortable for the 28-year-old artist. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a collection of heritable connective tissue disorders that can lead to multi-systemic symptoms. Kati experiences persistent pain and is unable to move easily, which …
All Rise for Queen Phoenix
Bill Kostur and Mobility Assistance Dog Phoenix Author: Susan Byers According to Greek mythology, a phoenix rises. But William (Bill) Kostur, a 68-year-old retiree from St. Paul, Minnesota believes that his Mobility Assist Dog, Phoenix, actually descends – from royalty. “She’s a queen,” he says, describing the three-year-old white Standard Poodle that has changed his life for the better. “What I cherish most is how she helps me rise each day – from the bed or a chair, using a tug rope.” Bill has Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive neurological condition where dopamine – the neurotransmitter that connects brain and …
Fine-tuning Folly
Mary Jo Stockman & Mobility Assistance Dog Folly Although Mary Jo Stockman of Hampton, Minn. is no longer training or riding horses her counterbalance and Mobility Assist Dog could easily be confused for a small horse at first glance. Mary Jo has dealt with multiple injuries to her spine as well as a birth defect that limit her mobility. Her ability to walk and balance is limited, plus she is unable to safely reach things on the floor and pick them up. While she no longer competes with horses she currently makes breath-taking derby hats and drives carriage horses. After much research, …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | A Mother’s Thank You
MINNEAPOLIS – Tom Sandness can go to work, and his mom, Mary, can rest easy. “I’ve been meaning to write to you about my son, Tom Sandness,” Mary reads. For Mary, it’s easier this way. Easier to write down her feelings, expressing just how scared she was every single day. “We held on to Tom during his many, many seizures. We rode in the ambulance with him, we sat by his bed in hospitals.” Tom was in the hospital because his blood sugar would drop so low, so fast. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was seven, …
Bonding with Oakley
James Pick & Mobility Assistance Dog Oakley Brainerd, Minn. resident James Pick has a new roommate: Mobility Assist Dog Oakley. James is living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease which attacks the central nervous system. “Because of my MS I have problems with balance and I fatigue easily,” says James. Without family close by James and his loved ones were living with a lot of worries; with Oakley around James has an assistant to help him with tasks as well as providing greater peace of mind for both himself and his family. Mobility Assistance Dog Oakley is a gorgeous …
Contact Us
Location
