By Jessica Kellogg – Carol has a presence that can’t be ignored. For many years, her vibrance and enthusiasm allowed her to thrive as a training director of a group home for people with Alzheimer’s. She eventually traveled all over the state to provide Person-Centered training to other caregivers. Then, in 2015, she started having pain and was on her journey to losing her mobility. Carol’s degenerative joint and disc disease got progressively worse until she could no longer work. “The rug got pulled out from under me. I had this cool job helping people with disabilities. Then guess who …
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Quinn Brings More Joy, More Life to Geralyn
“You change lives.” That statement comes from Geralyn, thinking of the volunteers and supporters who ensure Can Do Canines can place assistance dogs with those who need them. Geralyn is significantly hard of hearing. She says, “My hearing loss has increased over time, I used to be able to overcome the deficit in my hearing, but it is too great now to be able to do that.” She explains that she doesn’t hear the sounds that many people take for granted, like the doorbell, the phone, and a timer. “It is very stressful to be startled all the time and …
Thank You From Crystal Gail
Dearest selfless individuals responsible for the upbringing and training of my Diabetic Alert Dog Pierce, thank you! Honestly, words will never convey my immense gratitude for each of you. I am living with intracranial hypertension, a rare brain disease that causes my body to think and act like I have a brain tumor, yet I don’t. I am also living with the rare condition reactive hypoglycemia, which is when blood glucose levels become dangerously low following a meal. Chronic illness is a profound and life-changing event. Living with rare conditions has made nearly all aspects of my life more challenging …
Levi and Surley: Life with His Energy Conservationist
By Mary Gunderson – You might see Levi around town: U.S. Bank Stadium where he works part-time; Allianz Field for Minnesota United FC games; or out and about in Downtown Minneapolis where he resides. At his side, you’ll see his Can Do Canine Mobility Assist Dog, Surley, the almost-white Labrador. Levi has cerebral palsy and loves his active life, but since he uses a power chair when out in public, he couldn’t be so active without the assistance Surley provides. Surley is on the job whenever he’s asked to pick up things from the floor. He also helps by doing …
Partnership with Faribault Correctional Facility Resumes
On Thursday, March 14, Can Do Canines transported two assistance dogs in training, Crombie and Penny, to their temporary home at the Faribault Correctional Facility. A pair of selected inmate handlers will live with and provide 24/7 care to each of these two 1-year-old black Labrador Retrievers. Additionally, a Can Do Canines staff member will make weekly visits to the facility, providing training instruction to the inmate handlers, who will help the dogs learn obedience skills and basic assistance dog skills. Can Do Canines currently partners with seven other prisons in Minnesota and Wisconsin: Duluth, Rochester, Sandstone, and Waseca, Minn., …
Feeding Equipment Options for Dogs
Make no bones about it, mealtime is often a favorite activity for dogs. With the right equipment, mealtime can be not only a hit with your dog, but it could bring other benefits, as well. First of all, let’s dish about dishes. Both food and water bowls have varieties you might want to consider. A slow-feeder food bowl* is great for dogs who gulp their food quickly, sometimes even causing themselves to be sick. These bowls that often look like they have a maze inside do, in a way, put the dog’s tongue in a maze to investigate all the …
Lambeau Leaps into Nora’s Life
Nora grew up in Southern Ohio. Her dad played semi-pro football, and she quickly became a fan of the game, going to Cincinnati Bengals games and college matchups. When she was 14, her family moved to Minnesota, but Nora struggled to embrace her new state’s pro team. Her perception of fan commitment, along with sitting inside the 70-degree Metrodome, didn’t work for her. “You’re not supposed to take your coat off when you go to a football game. That’s just backwards. We’re in Minnesota. So I really didn’t vibe with the whole Viking thing.” A few years later, she entered …
Dog Walkers Jeff and Laurie Have Really Stepped Up
In a strange way, cats are inevitably responsible for leading married couple Laurie Mackert and Jeff Anderson to the path as dog-walkers for Can Do Canines. Laurie and Jeff started as short-term dog hosts in Winter 2022, but Laurie reports, “It turned out to be too stressful for our cats.” Laurie had already been volunteering then as a dog walker at the Animal Humane Society (AHS), and a fellow volunteer, Mike McLaughlin, who walked both there and at Can Do Canines recommended our organization to her. “He had nothing but good things to say about his role at Can Do …
Qantas is Making Life Easier for Bethany
By Beth Billstrom – In 2022, Bethany experienced a horrifying seizure brought on by a stroke. Unbelievably, her then five-year-old daughter was home and knew how to call EMS. Bethany states, “She helped me through until the emergency medical team arrived. I’m so grateful to her, but she’s a child. I needed a different plan.” Although she feels lucky that her husband and daughter are willing to help her, she knows her conditions are stressful for them, too. “They always worry about me,” admits Bethany. “They need to go to work and school, so being left by myself is scary …
We’re Excited to Share Our New TV Commercial
Just when some companies were preparing to air their multi-million-dollar advertisements during the Super Bowl, we were producing a professional TV commercial of our own (though not for the Super Bowl)! During the Fetching Ball program, we previewed the 30-second spot. Check it out here.
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