It wasn’t until Annabelle was in elementary school that she began exhibiting symptoms of Friedreich’s ataxia, a condition that affects some of the body’s nerves. For Annabelle, this meant she experienced difficulty walking and increasingly risked falling down and severely hurting herself. So when Annabelle and her mother heard of Can Do Canines from a social worker in their northern Minnesota town, they were excited to learn about the ways an assistance dog could help. That is where Mobility Assist Dog Vino enters the story. This 3-year old yellow Labrador is a constant companion that helps ease Annabelle’s fears of …
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Help Support us with Target Circle
We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through June 30th, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how Target’s donation will be divvied up. Find out more about Target Circle here: www.target.com/circle. We’re asking our supporters to help us make the most of this incredible opportunity. Every vote counts to help us receive a portion of the available Target funds as we …
Volunteer Coordinator Needed
Interested in fetching a new opportunity for your life? Consider becoming part of our pack. Whether you want to fully interact with our furry residents every workday, serve our many wonderful volunteers or clients, or help ensure that we can provide our dogs free of charge to those who need them, a Can Do Canines career might be a perfect fit. We are currently taking applications for a Volunteer Coordinator. If you or someone you know might be a good candidate for this position, we encourage you to check out the position description.
Boris and Isaac enjoy favorite activities together
Isaac loves to be on the move, but his quick feet and bolting tendencies had his mother, Celia, looking for other options to help keep him safe in public. When her doctor shared a packet of resources, one of which was about Can Do Canines, Celia applied for an Autism Assist Dog for Isaac in September 2017. While on the waitlist, the family experienced some challenging situations. When Isaac was 3 years old, he ran away and his family finally found him under a car, looking at his reflection on the chrome bumper. The fear of Isaac bolting in public …
Foster Homes Needed for Puppies
We need several people to help by fostering one of our lovable puppies in the coming weeks. These little bundles will be 10 weeks old at the time, and the commitment is about 10 weeks. However, if you are able to help out for half that, about 3-5 weeks, we are able to accommodate that as well. We have knowledgeable trainers on staff ready to equip you with the skills and information to set you up for success. Read more about the Great Start process here. If you have not gone through volunteer orientation yet, please contact our Volunteer Department …
Practice Loose-Leash Walking to Avoid Being Pulled
As spring approaches, getting out to enjoy the nice weather by walking our dogs more often and for longer periods of time is a welcome relief. This might also be a great time to brush up on loose-leash walking habits with your four-legged friend. Teaching a dog to walk nicely with us on a leash is one of the hardest skills to maintain. We walk slower and usually in a straighter line than our dogs, and we certainly don’t get giddy about running over to sniff delicious smells. Most dogs will get very excited about the opportunity to go for …
Uriel Becomes Angel in Bella’s Life
It’s not uncommon for someone to inquire about a Can Do Canines dog after learning about the organization from someone else. But when Bella knew three others who received a Can Do Canine, she figured it was her turn to apply too. A sophomore, living on campus at Augsburg College and studying graphic design, Bella has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She has some movement and control of her hands and legs, but uses a power chair and needs help with several daily tasks. She admits that she wanted someone—or in this case, something—”to always be there to help me.” Yellow Labrador …
Volunteer Spotlight: The Whitfield Family
The Whitfield family, composed of Erin, Jef and their daughter, Ella, first heard about Can Do Canines about five years ago. Erin recalls, “A friend from church told me about Can Do Canines. Her son used to work at the Stanley Prison. We started fostering in January of 2018.” In the four years that have passed since then, the Whitfields have volunteered in many different ways. “We have done Weekend Prison Fostering, Puppy Sitting, Short-Term Fostering, Great Starts, and Long-Term Fostering. I have also helped make phone calls for Can Do Canines after a fundraiser,” Erin reports. When asked about …
A Herding Dog and his Hearing Job
Training her fourth successful successor assistance dog has been an adventure for Becky Thomas, who was partnered with three dogs from Can Do Canines before Jasper came into her life. It all started back in the early 2000s. Becky’s father had been a Lion in Ham Lake, and the club had done some fundraising for Can Do Canines. Having learned about their assistance dogs, he suggested that Becky apply for a Hearing Assist Dog, and her journey began! Jasper, now a 5-year-old miniature Australian Shepherd, has been with Becky since he was 12 weeks old. Becky loved her previous Hearing …
Fabian Becomes Perfect Treatment Component for Complicated Diagnosis
Kara was born with a metabolic bone disorder called Hypophosphatasia. She and the litany of doctors she met with for the first couple of decades of her life couldn’t identify what was causing her symptoms, though. She says there were clues along the way, including easily-fractured bones, missing teeth and her small stature. A range of diagnoses were suggested, including malnutrition at one point. Kara remembers thinking, “I’m a farm girl from Wisconsin. We are not malnourished. Definitely not.” Finally in her late 20s, Kara became the first person in Wisconsin to be diagnosed with this condition. While it’s not …
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