Three-year-old yellow Lab Tommy was nearly offered a job while at Walmart with his human partner, Pat, when the two of them were shopping there after being certified. Pat explained that a worker saw Tommy picking up an item that Pat had dropped and said they could employ him to collect all the merchandise that falls on the floor throughout the store. Pat is not about to share her precious teammate, though. “My whole life I think has changed when he moved in or even when I knew I was going to get him,” she says. Plus, Tommy is plenty …
News
Meet Our New Board Members
Within the past couple of months, we have welcomed four new members to our Board of Directors: Gabrielle Anderson, Rebeca Sharpe, Drew Wineland, and Matthew Woods. These four are joining our other board members to bring the total number of board members to 14, not including Jeff Johnson. We are excited about the knowledge and experience they bring to the group! Gabrielle Anderson – Allegro Senior Living Gabbi has been in the senior living industry for almost 10 years, and she is currently the Vice President of Operations for Allegro Senior Living. She oversees a portfolio of senior living communities …
Dog’s Dental Health
Dental disease is one of the most common concerns that veterinarians see in their patients. Dental disease can be uncomfortable, painful for dogs, and expensive to treat. In the long run, it can cause damage to the jaw, a higher risk of oral cancer, and eventually cause kidney disease from bacteria overgrowth. Luckily, dental disease is, overall, something very preventable. Brushing the dog’s teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease. Ensure your dog has appropriate toys and treats that are safe for teeth and yearly vet visits to check oral health. Frequency: At least once a week; daily, …
Hearing Assist Dog Wrigley Learns “Intelligent Disobedience”
By Mary Gunderson Roy and his wife, Paula, started financially supporting Can Do Canines more than 20 years ago with no thought of becoming an assistance dog family. About two years ago, Roy noticed his hearing wasn’t as sharp. While it’s not unusual for a person in their 60s to lose some hearing ability, Roy’s loss was steep and fast. “I became quite limited without hearing aids,” Roy says. Last summer he was faithfully reading Can Do Canines’ quarterly Tails for You. The article “What are You Waiting For?“ stopped him. “I was reminded, if you qualify for an assistance …
Katherine and Bing Cherish Their Shared Care
Katherine describes herself as having been a “very, very active person,” sometimes having biked 100 miles in a day. So learning in 2004 that she had multiple sclerosis (MS) was a blow. “It was a difficult diagnosis for me,” she recalls. Upon advice from the MS Society, Katherine applied with Can Do Canines in 2010 and was accepted as a client. She says, “I was just thrilled that they would consider me for a service dog.” That year, a black Lab named Summer became Katherine’s first Can Do Canine, and they had a wonderful 12-year partnership. After Summer passed away …
Ian and Dewey “Walk on” Toward Greater Security
Ian, Autism Assist Dog Dewey, and Ian’s mom pose for a photo. Ian lives in a full house with a busy family, which includes his parents, an older brother, a younger sister, and several family pets. Yet making room for Autism Assist Dog Dewey was no problem for this 8 year old and his family. Ian’s parents, Laura and Chadd, heard about Can Do Canines from friends whose son received an Autism Assist Dog from us not long ago. They were excited, but the moment Ian met Dewey was even more thrilling than they expected. Laura says, “I knew that …
PAW Program is the “Best Buy” in Town
“Let’s talk about what’s possible,” is the current slogan for Best Buy. So it was only fitting when Best Buy employee and long-time Can Do Canines volunteer Rebeca Sharpe approached us in Spring 2022 to talk about the possibility of a new program for fostering dogs. PAW Program participants work on loose-leash walking. Rebeca is a member of Best Buy’s disABILITIES Employee Resource Group, which was discussing having more assistance animals in training at their corporate headquarters in Richfield. She was already bringing Can Do Canine dog-in-training Waylon with her to work and recalls thinking, “What if we expand that …
Meet Client Services Coordinator Jen Gravrok
As a dog lover growing up in Minnesota, Jen Gravrok wanted to be a veterinarian. While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, her fascination with animal behavior—especially dogs’— surpassed that original interest. Jen recalls that as she was completing her undergraduate degree, she wanted to learn more. “I applied to study anthrozoology (human-animal interaction) with a professor who specialized in dog-human interaction. This professor was able to get me a full scholarship to study with her in Australia, so I packed my bags and moved down under for four years while I completed my Ph.D. under her supervision.” Jen Gravrok …
Abby’s World Opens up with Sonora by her Side
Just out of college at the age of 22, Abby went to the doctor thinking she had a common illness. What she didn’t expect was receiving a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Once someone who traveled frequently and lived in Vietnam, Abby felt her world shrink significantly as she moved back in with her parents and began navigating her new reality. To complicate things more, a couple of years into her diagnosis, she developed an allergy to adhesives, which are used on more modern diabetes management devices such as wearable glucose monitors and pumps. Abby had to revert to using test …
Winter Paw-Pad Care
It’s January, so as we take our beloved canines out for walks, they’re not exactly “walking on sunshine.” Keep these tips in mind to protect your pooch’s paws. Using “Musher’s Secret” or petroleum jelly on the dog’s feet can provide a protective layer to paws from ice and irritants. While ice salt is only mildly poisonous to dogs, it can cause irritation to the skin, paws, and gastrointestinal tract (when directly ingested). Make sure to use a damp cloth to wipe off your pet’s paws after coming into the house. When returning home, check for cracks in paw pads or …
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