Get up in the morning. Eat breakfast. Watch TV. Eat lunch. Watch TV. Eat dinner. Watch TV. Go to bed. This routine describes a typical day for Chris before he got a Can Do Canines assistance dog. Born with quad spastic cerebral palsy, which affects his ability to walk, Chris uses a power wheelchair and says, “I can’t just bend over to pick something up.” And having to pick up items is a common occurrence for Chris, who regularly drops items, due to his condition. “It affects my hand movements and the ability to open doors.” He admits that he …
News
Leah and Auggie Share Unbreakable Bond
Twelve-year-old Leah recently had a major back surgery, fusing nine of her vertebrae with a rod in her spinal column. Fused by her side during recovery has been her new Mobility Assist Dog, Auggie. Leah has spina bifida and is paralyzed from the hips down. While she and her parents, Ty and Jen, have managed well over the years, helping with morning routines has become more difficult for them as she has grown. When Can Do Canines presented at their church in 2023, they were intrigued. Ty says that learning more about the organization, “ended up with us seeing the …
Loving the Dogs While Loving Her Job
In 2012, when Stacy Sheldon-Wilkinson was hired as a part-time staff member, she was one of only a handful of part-time kennel staff members caring for eight dogs in the Can Do Canines kennel. Since then, the kennel, where our program dogs reside in their final few months before being placed with a client, has grown to host approximately 30 dogs at a time, with about a dozen full-time and part-time staff members sharing duties. Soon after starting with us, Stacy began writing protocols for kennel responsibilities, and she earned the role as our first Kennel Manager. Interested in and …
Walking Clients Through the Loss of Their Dog
Anyone who has lost a pet knows that it can feel devastating. The compounding aspect of that animal being one that serves to provide independence and other necessary life skills can be that much worse. Karen and Ben, her career-changed Can Do Canine, offer smiles for the camera. For Can Do Canine graduates who experience the death or retirement of an assistance dog, volunteer Karen Kodzik is there to help. Karen began her relationship with Can Do Canines about eight years ago, hosting dogs and helping at various events. “As my schedule shifted, I could do fostering less and less,” …
Building Our Capacity to Serve
As we celebrate 35 years of empowering individuals with disabilities through the life-changing partnership of assistance dogs, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the donors and volunteers who have made this mission possible. Your generosity has placed more than 900 specially trained assistance dogs with those in need, bringing freedom, independence, and peace of mind to so many lives. Looking to the future, we recognize the growing demand for these services and the need to expand our capacity. That’s why we are excited to share the news of our upcoming expansion project, with a key component being the development of …
Facility Dog Serves to Calm Students
Most elementary education teachers would probably agree that classroom management can be a challenge at times. Having a special way to calm a child could offer a definite advantage. That’s how Facility Dog Quota is making a difference in the Menasha School District in Wisconsin. Quota was paired with Rick, who serves as a School Resource Officer (SRO) for the district. He says, “I was a police officer for five years and then got transitioned into the role of SRO.” The district had a Facility Dog a few years ago, and Rick had interacted with that dog at the station …
New Can Do Canines Apparel Available
Unleash your enthusiasm for our latest Can Do Canines shirt design! We are selling a limited release of our “Unleash your Love” design featuring a black Lab. The design is available in multiple shirt colors and styles. We even have some options for the kids in your life. To get your hands on this new design, place your orders by 11:59 p.m. EST on October 30. Purchases will be shipped by late November, too—just in time for the holidays! Don’t wait, order now. Order Now
Moses and Jason: A Long-awaited Match Made in Heaven
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 …
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. …
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