After a snowmobile accident in 1995 left him paralyzed from the chest down, Jason waited a long time to get an assistance dog. Following his accident, Jason spent four months in the hospital recuperating then jumped right into playing sports. He was active and busy and just didn’t feel like the time was right to get a dog. “But I’m less independent now,” Jason says. “I met a guy at church who has an assistance dog, and he told me about Can Do Canines.” Finally ready to take the first step, Jason went to an open house and soon filled …
News
Appreciating the Positive Effects of an Autism Assist Dog
“Autism affects every aspect of Norah’s life.” This statement, made by Norah’s mom, Kelly, sums up the challenges Norah faces. Kelly shares a few examples validating this, saying, “Norah has had problems sleeping since birth. Norah does not speak. She does repeat words. Norah has few self-care skills. She walks on her toes so she has AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis braces) to help with this.” These challenges, alone, are enough to create anxiety for any parent, and Kelly and her husband, Brian, are no exception. However, what concerned them the most was leaving the house with Norah. Kelly says, “Taking …
Encountering Assistance Dogs in the Wild
Don’t be surprised the next time you are cruising through the produce department of the grocery store, picking up cleaning supplies in Target, or finding the perfect paint color in Menard’s if you see an assistance dog team stroll by. Can Do Canines has over 350 active teams out and about in the world, not to mention the dogs-in-training that might be practicing with a trained volunteer for their future role. That’s not including assistance dogs from other organizations. Most people understand that assistance dogs should not be petted when working. Etiquette for assistance dog teams goes beyond that, though. …
Even Better Than a “Teacher’s Pet”
Kelli was a second-grade teacher for her profession, but in her spare time, she loved to ride horses. A fall from a horse in 2020, though, changed her life. After an eight-day coma scare, Kelli began recovery from a traumatic brain injury that affected the function of the right side of her body. Her right eye no longer focuses correctly due to nerve damage; she is forced to use her left, non-dominant hand for many tasks; and she uses a cane to account for balance issues. The many adjustments in her life and the multiple therapies she regularly undergoes quickly …
Join us at the September 24th MN Twins game for free!
The Minnesota Twins, who have become a valuable partner with us over the past few years, have offered us 100 free tickets to the Tuesday, September 24, game against the Miami Marlins. This is also a Twins “Bark at the Park” experience, with game tickets available for dogs. A portion of all ticket sales related to this special promotion are being donated to Can Do Canines! The first 10 Puppy Program volunteers with a program dog that is at least 18 months old can sign up to bring that Can Do Canine along to the game. Of course, certified dogs …
Linda and Dean Wedul’s 19-Year Commitment is a Win-Win
It was Linda and Dean Wedul’s 15-year-old daughter who first introduced their family to Can Do Canines in 2005 after reading an article about someone who volunteered with service dogs. “I told her if she did the research and found an organization we could volunteer,” remembers Linda. “I honestly didn’t think she would follow up. About two weeks later we had an appointment for a house inspection with Julianne and within a week had a very large Labradoodle called Nike. When our daughter moved on to college, we weren’t sure if we could manage the time commitment with two people, …
Vanya is Tuned in to Kevin’s Needs
Since 1976, Kevin has been a ham radio operator. Using this type of party-line system, he says, “I literally try to see how many countries I can talk to in the world. At last count, I think I had right around 180 … from Antarctica to the North Pole,” and beyond, including the International Space Station. He has been on calls with King Hussein of Jordan, Ronny Milsap, Barry Goldwater, and other celebrities. These days, the biggest superstar in his life may be his Skilled Home Companion, Vanya, a 3-year-old yellow Lab. Trained to pick up items for him; retrieve …
An Update on Our Growth
As we wrap up our summer and send the kids back to school, I wanted to provide you with an update on Can Do Canines’ long-term growth plans and shorter-term building and capital campaign plans. There have been many discussions over the past year, and I want to share the newest developments and revisit how we arrived at our decision to serve more people. Building/Capital Campaign We are nearing completion of our architectural plans to double the size of our facility in New Hope. The construction will include many upgrades to help us better serve our clients and support our …
Nicole Enjoys Tuesday Every Day
It was on a Wednesday in 2016—the day before Thanksgiving—when Nicole certified with Diabetes and Mobility Assist Dog Tuesday. Nearly eight years later, their bond seems stronger than ever. “She is just a part of me like another limb. She’s always around, and [it’s] comforting to me to have her with me. It feels weird if she is not right next to my side,” shares Nicole. Staying by Nicole’s side means not staying still very often. As a busy mom of three children, ages 16, 14, and 11, Nicole has Tuesday’s service cape at the ready and says, “Tuesday is …
Open to a New World with Vinnie
By Tracy Will – Katie was originally drawn to Can Do Canines as a way to train her own dog, Pewter, as an assistance dog. Katie knew she needed help because, among a range of medical issues, multiple sclerosis was causing her serious balance and mobility problems. During the application process, an accident tragically cut short Pewter’s life, and Katie and her family were devastated. Katie’s doctor encouraged her to continue her process with Can Do Canines, and she did so, believing the waiting process for a dog would give her time to grieve and heal. As soon as she …
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