By Ian Hebeisen Assistance dogs fill many different roles around the house. They play the part of doorman by tugging doors open, and housekeeper by cleaning up toys. Flynn the Black Lab, a Mobility Assist Dog, fills all these roles, but perhaps his most impactful role is that of motivator. Flynn is paired with Drake, a 10-year-old living with cerebral palsy. When Drake was around 7 years old, his parents started looking into getting a service dog to not only help accomplish tasks, but to be a lifelong friend for Drake. “When we looked into Can Do Canines, we thought …
Archives for June 2021
Frasier the Wonder Dog Comes to the Rescue
By: Sarah Lennander As Ann was getting older and the effects of her disabilities were compounding, she was at a crossroads. “I felt like I was headed towards being unable to live by myself anymore,” she explains. Enter, Mobility Assist Dog Frasier. Or as Ann calls him, “Frasier the Wonder Dog.” Standing tall on four legs and weighing in at 66 pounds, the black Labrador Retriever isn’t what most people initially imagine when they think of a superhero. In fact, Ann remembered her first impression of Frasier, saying, “I was kind of surprised at how little he was!” But having …
Minimal Wait Reported for Certain Types of Assistance Dogs
Can Do Canines announces that there is currently less waiting time than normal for clients who need one of the following types of assistance dogs: Mobility Assist Dog, Hearing Assist Dog, Diabetes Assist Dog, and Seizure Assist Dog. Each of these types of dogs, along with Autism Assist Dogs, are provided free of charge to accepted applicants. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for a Can Do Canine assistance dog: Must be a resident of Minnesota or Wisconsin Must be physically and financially able to take full responsibility for the dog after certification Must be at …
Many “Got Luce” at Recent Event
On Tuesday, June 15, we hosted a Happy Hour event at Luce Line Brewing in Plymouth. The afternoon was an overwhelming success and included assistance dog demonstrations by our trainers, a brief overview about the organization by Executive Director Jeff Johnson, prize drawings, a delicious variety of beer and other beverages, a food truck from Market BBQ, gourmet dog treats and lawn games. Luce Line Brewing generously donated a portion of the proceeds from purchases to Can Do Canines. Luce Line Brewing is dedicated to supporting local nonprofits and recently reached out to us to form this new partnership to …
A Veteran’s New Buddy to have his Back
People who serve their country often live out their role as caretaker, not regularly considering ways they could seek help for themselves. Through serving two tours in Vietnam, establishing a family, continuing to work, and finally retiring, Gary has been dedicated to keeping others safe. However, after a rapid decline in his ability to hear, he realized he would need help to remain aware of important sounds around him. Gary has worn hearing aids since the late 80s, still unable to hear some pitches with them in. At night when he takes them out, he’s nearly deaf. Growing up in …
Big Enough to Overwhelm a Dog, Smart…and Calm…Enough to Not Want To
At age 13, Preston is big for his age at 5 feet, 10 inches and 160 pounds. He’s also fast, being able to easily outrun at least his mom, if not his dad. In the past, Preston’s Autism Spectrum Disorder has caused him to bolt from his parents and to have emotional meltdowns in public. When he was a toddler, those situations weren’t nearly as dangerous and troublesome, but parents Nikki and Corey knew to get help for Preston before their situation got out of control. They applied with Can Do Canines when Preston was just 3 years old and …
Volunteer Spotlight: Sarah Bliss
Sarah has been involved in the Puppy Program in several different roles. Her most recent undertaking was as the rescue foster home for Edgar, a 1.5 year old Retriever Mix from the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley who became a Can Do Canine in April. “I grew up not far from Can Do Canines so I frequently would pass by the building while on the highway,” Sarah says. She continues, “My mom and I attended a graduation event when I was in high school and that’s really when I learned about the organization and all that they did. It …
Taking Independence to a Higher Level
Consider for a moment your dream home. Would it have an elevator? Fifteen-year-old Mike has an elevator that directly accesses his bedroom. But for Mike, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, having elevator access is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. When Mike and his family took the steps to receive a Mobility Assist Dog from Can Do Canines, a special dog needed to rise to the occasion. An intelligent, black Labrador Retriever named Maddox was down with the plan to perform the specific skills to help Mike navigate the world. Although ecstatic to welcome a new buddy, …
Contact Us
Location
