Where did dogs come from? How did they become man’s best friend? Tens of thousands of years ago, before Facebook and smartphones, before the invention of the wheel and the advent of agriculture, early humans formed an unlikely partnership with another animal—the grey wolf. The boldest and friendliest of these grey wolves became the early ancestors of the modern dog. They loitered around campfires and scavenged leftover food, becoming increasingly tame with each generation. In a sense, early humans and early dogs chose each other. It was a mutually beneficial partnership: we provided them with a reliable food supply and …
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Volunteer Spotlight: Diana Adamson and Paul Oberhaus
If you attended the graduation ceremony last month, you would have seen graduate Greg Landeen and Mobility Assist Dog Nellie take center stage. And alongside them the volunteers who made Nellie possible: Puppy Raisers Diana Adamson and Paul Oberhaus. Vocalizing what a lot of us are thinking, graduate Greg says, “It’s amazing that people are doing this on a volunteer basis. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a dog that’s this awesome and then have to say goodbye to her. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Throughout their 17 years of service, Diana and Paul have given much …
Maintaining a Lifetime of Independence
Amy Sabot and Mobility Assist Dog Mable By Bobb Elsenpeter Amy Sabot’s life was forever changed when she had a stroke—at just 7 years old. “My brother went to get my mom up—she had just come back from the nursing home where she worked—and he said, ‘I think Amy had a stroke. But kids don’t have strokes,’” Amy remembers. After several more strokes at the hospital, Amy’s right side was affected by hemiparesis, a partial weakness on one side of the body. Her family helped her learn to adapt with walking, daily care, and activities, and she continued to adjust …
Volunteer Spotlight: Gwen McMahon
Gwen McMahon has worn a lot of different hats over the past 25 years as a volunteer for Can Do Canines. You read that correctly—25 years! Can Do Canines was in its early years when it first came in contact with Gwen. “Can Do Canines was located just four blocks from where I lived 25 years ago. I am very interested in dogs, and so I set out to find out what they did. As a retired social worker, their mission to help those in need resonated with me.” Gwen continues, “I did whatever was needed at first. I served …
Making Milestones Possible
Megan Grosskreutz and Mobility and Hearing Assist Dog Zoe By Erin Reyes One of the biggest milestones of a young adult’s life is moving out of the family home. But the possibility of doing so seemed far-fetched for 25-year-old Megan Grosskreutz whose parents were often hesitant to leave her alone at home. “I can’t hear people at the door,” explains Megan. In fact, there have been several instances in which family members have walked into the house and Megan didn’t know it until they were face-to-face. But Megan’s parents don’t just worry about her safety when it comes to Megan …
A Lot Has Changed In Nine Years
“It’s really interesting where the training was nine years ago and what it is now,” says Mary. The second-time graduate of Can Do Canines experienced a much different training process when she was matched with her first Diabetes Assist Dog, Ebony, nine years ago. After nine years of dedicated service, Ebony has entered retirement. “Ebony told me she was ready to retire,” explains Mary. The 10-year-old dog was becoming tired, and didn’t enjoy spontaneity like she once did. “I just had to respect that. She was done and I had to listen.” Once Ebony was enjoying retirement, Mary needed to …
With the Help of Four Paws
Trent Korpela and Autism Assist Dog Georgie Second-grader Trent enjoys swinging on his tire swing and going on walks and hikes. His parents say he’s very active and always on the move. “He loves balloons,” adds Dorothy, Trent’s younger sister; specifically, letting them go and watching them float up into the sky. Trent has autism and has been receiving therapies since the age of two. Now at 8 years old, he’s adjusting to life with a furry helper by his side. Trent’s parents, Kelly and Paul, got Trent on the Can Do Canines waiting list when he was 3 and …
From an Inmate Handler: Israel’s Letter
“Ezra, come!” I call loudly towards a tangled knot of Labrador puppies playing at the far end of the field. Before the last syllable is even out of my mouth, one puppy spins on his hind legs, disentangling himself from all of the fun that a dog pile offers, and trots in my direction. Seeing the floppy ears, that adorable little face and those expectant eyes scamper towards me always fills me with joy. But at this moment joy takes a back seat to pride and excitement. We have worked so hard to get to this point. Ezra arrives at …
A Couple of Worker Bees
Jennifer Torres and Mobility Assist Dog Buzz by Susan Byers Jennifer Torres and her Mobility Assist Dog Buzz have quite a lot in common. They have both spent their lives, busy as bees, working in service to others. Jennifer got her start in the service as a member of the U.S. Navy. But after 13 years, she retired due to Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that causes dizziness, imbalance, and some mild hearing loss. Undaunted, Jennifer went on to serve as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit of a Twin Cities hospital. There, she sustained …
Disability Awareness and Service Dog Etiquette
The most important part of interacting with someone with a disability is seeing that person for who he or she is, not what disability they have. Avoid using terms that put the disability first or victimize the person, such as “wheelchair-bound.” Instead, use the phrase “person who uses a wheelchair.” To read more about people-first language, refer to this article. The following are some additional tips that are useful for interacting with a person with a disability: When speaking with someone using an interpreter, speak directly to the person with the disability and not the interpreter. Ask if he or …
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