Eighteen-year-old Dane, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, is disciplined in regularly working out. “I make it an emphasis to get out and stay active, because I know if I don’t, things would go downhill pretty fast.” His dad, Jeff, is a Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Winona State University and helps Dane modify weight routines. When Dane begins attending that same college in the fall, he will have a job in the fitness room. Despite his comfort with weights, he was relieved to feel a weight lifted off his shoulders when he welcomed Mobility Assist Dog Lola into his …
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A Shaky Journey to a Steady Companion
The moment you meet Tammy, the first thing you notice is her contagious joy and how you suddenly feel like she’s welcomed you into her family. Tammy cares deeply about caring for others, so the people and animals in her life know only love and kindness. One lucky Can Do Canine was recently welcomed into Tammy’s family to start sharing this warm environment, and for Tammy, the addition was not a moment too soon. Recent years have brought Tammy a growing number of medical diagnoses and limitations, which have made her world smaller and smaller. While she doesn’t have a …
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Do you love animals? Do you like helping people? Join us in our mission of enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs by providing excellent care to our program dogs and their feline co-workers! Read about our position openings for both a full-time kennel manager and a part-time kennel staff member on our Careers page.
Working Together to Lick the Fears
“He came out of his shell,” says Andrea, speaking of when her 8-year-old son, Jaxson, received Autism Assist Dog Natalie from Can Do Canines in late 2020. Jaxson, who has a combination of diagnoses in addition to autism, including anxiety, used to struggle to be by himself. Andrea explains that not only was Jaxson afraid of leaving their Prior Lake house, he couldn’t even go into a different room of the home, including the bathroom, without someone else. Natalie’s loving and calm presence has changed that. Andrea says, “He seems a lot less worried about being alone.” She illustrates, “Once …
One Look Says It All for Kim and Mobility Assist Dog Mazie
It’s right there in their eyes. When Kim and Mobility Assist Dog Mazie look at each other, their shared love is obvious to anyone. During one such moment, Kim quietly says, “She really likes me.” Mazie is not the only dog to have this feeling for Kim, though. Kim was first matched with Can Do Canine Tagg, a Labradoodle, in 2011. Tagg was a much-needed partner for Kim, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987, when she was in her late 20s. The disease causes her to fall frequently, and dropping items poses a challenge that can spiral. She …
How Flynn the Black Lab Helped in Unexpected Ways
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 …
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 …
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