Tim Roufs and HAD Bentley By Anonymous Tim Roufs’ 7-year-old granddaughter insisted he needed an assistance dog to save his life if the smoke alarm went off at night. “It took her about six months to convince me it was a good idea,” Tim admits. “What it boiled down to was I couldn’t come up with any good arguments for why I should ignore her advice. And, she was right, I do need a dog to save my life.” Tim is completely deaf, and although he uses cochlear implants, they can’t be worn all day and he doesn’t wear them …
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5 Winter Safety Tips for Dogs
Winter means holiday cheer and snowy landscapes, but along with hot chocolate there are less pleasant wintry associations, like icy sidewalks, dry skin, and windchill. These cold weather concerns can affect all members of your family, including the furry ones. A few precautions can go a long way in ensuring your dog stays happy and healthy in the winter months. 1. Protect the paws: Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into the paws before going outside helps protect against salt and other chemical agents. It also helps to moisturize pads that have become dry or cracked. Booties can provide …
Volunteer Spotlight: Ann Smetana
It was through an advertisement at her local library in Wisconsin that Ann Smetana first learned about Can Do Canines. It’s been almost two years and numerous weekend fosters since, and Ann will happily tell you she believes her family has become Weekend Puppy Raisers for life! In the spring of 2017, the Smetana family started their journey as Weekend Puppy Raisers for Polly, a Black Labrador Retriever being raised at Jackson Correctional Institution (JCI) in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Twice a month they ventured to JCI to pick up their pre-assigned puppy for a few days of socialization. Since …
Someone Watching Over Him
Casey and Hearing Assist Dog Fallon By Joy Miller Every day Casey deals with progressive hearing loss and difficulty with auditory processing, which forced him away from his career in the medical technology field. He faces this change in his life with great grace and gratitude, due in large part to the loving companions he has by his side every day—wife Linda and Hearing Assist Dog Fallon. Fallon has been trained to alert Casey to sounds he can’t hear like alarms, the doorbell, and the phone. She also nudges him when Linda calls from another room. But Casey especially appreciates …
Ike Makes Big Changes
Andy Anderson and MAD Ike Andy Anderson worked in a manufacturing plant in the 1980s. One day he was running a smelter, melting down die cast and filling up molds weighing more than 250 pounds. He picked up one of the filled molds to load it into a bucket. “I heard a noise and I twisted and there went my back,” Andy says. From there on, Andy became disabled and could not work. His back injury makes it difficult for him to bend over to pick up items and puts him at risk for falling when off balance. To stay …
Mittens That Matter
By Leah Mickschl Founder and Owner of Pretty Simple So, a few weeks ago my husband and I launched Pretty Simple CURE, our philanthropic initiative of Pretty Simple, my e-commerce boutique. It was surprisingly emotional for me. We have put our hearts, souls and finances behind this project in hopes that the CURE will create awareness for type 1 diabetes, and raise necessary dollars to help fund research to find a cure. One pair of mittens at a time. Our daughter Gracie was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with this dreaded disease. I am actually a pediatric registered nurse and practiced …
Volunteer Spotlight: Laurie Gillis
Laurie Gillis was watching the news on a Saturday morning three years ago when she first learned about the Can Do Woofaroo fundraising walk. Looking for a way to socialize her new rescue dog, Barkley, she decided to attend. She remembers, “It was five minutes from my house, it was a really nice Saturday, and I thought, ‘Perfect! I am going!’” And her first Can Do Woofaroo turned into many more. After the event, Laurie decided to check out Can Do Canines further. “I had been looking around for places to volunteer … I love dogs, I love people, and …
A True Energy Saver
Michelle Mehrer and Mobility Assist Dog Gayle By Bill Johnson Like many Minnesotans, Michelle Mehrer crams a lot of outdoor activities into the fleeting warm-weather months. The south Minneapolis resident enjoys long walks around the lakes, as well as to the grocery store, a coffee shop, and several restaurants. She also attends Twins games and concerts. And most mornings, if the weather’s nice, you’ll find her out on the deck eating breakfast. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 28 years ago, Michelle depends on her power chair, along with Mobility Assist Dog Gayle, to lead an active life, regardless of the season. …
First Community Service Dog
Xerxes, one of Can Do Canines most recent graduates, will be leading a life quite different from other graduates. The Black Labrador Retriever was placed not with a person with a disability, but with the Orono Police Department. He’s a Community Service Dog, and the first in Minnesota to serve in this capacity for a police department. As a member of the Orono Police Department, Xerxes will have the important role of comforting and connecting with individuals impacted by trauma or experiencing a mental health crisis in the community. When individuals are experiencing fear, anxiety, or a mental health crisis, …
Grateful for Glory
Cindy Thoreson-Arnold and Mobility Assist Dog Glory By Joy Miller Cindy Thoreson-Arnold and Mobility Assist Dog Glory are a new team, but their relationship is already off to a solid and loving start. Glory, a Black Labrador Retriever, has been Cindy’s assistance dog since January 2018. Glory is not Cindy’s first assistance dog, though. For 12 years before Glory, Cindy worked with Mobility Assist Dog Blue, a constant source of strength and support. Sadly Blue died in the summer of 2017, and Cindy was devastated at the loss not only of Blue as her Mobility Assist Dog, but also as …
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