• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Client Services Login
  • Current Volunteers

Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs logo

Our Dogs Fetch Amazing Things

  • Our Dogs
          • Assistance Dogs
            • Mobility Assist Dogs
            • Autism Assist Dogs
            • Seizure Assist Dogs
            • Diabetes Assist Dogs
            • Hearing Assist Dogs
            • Facility Dogs
          • How to Apply
            • Assistance Dog FAQs
            • Is an Assistance Dog Right for You?
          • Journey of a Can Do Canine
          • Where Our Dogs Come From
          • Career-Changed Dogs
  • Get Involved
          • Volunteer
            • Dog Hosting Opportunities
            • Campus, Event, and Remote Opportunities
          • Buy Merchandise
          • Spread the Word
          • Donate
            • Sustaining Monthly Gifts
            • Estate and Planned Giving
            • Workplace Giving
            • More Ways to Give
            • Wish Lists
          • Events
            • Fetching Ball Gala
            • Can Do Woofaroo
            • Open House
            • Graduation
  • About
          • About Us
          • Our Humans
          • Our Story
          • Our WAG Center
          • Prison Puppy Program
          • Careers
          • Our Finances & Annual Report
            • Charitable Organization Registration Compliance
          • News
            • Newsletter Archive
          • FAQs for Medical Professionals
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Dogs
          • Assistance Dogs
            • Mobility Assist Dogs
            • Autism Assist Dogs
            • Seizure Assist Dogs
            • Diabetes Assist Dogs
            • Hearing Assist Dogs
            • Facility Dogs
          • How to Apply
            • Assistance Dog FAQs
            • Is an Assistance Dog Right for You?
          • Journey of a Can Do Canine
          • Where Our Dogs Come From
          • Career-Changed Dogs
  • Get Involved
          • Volunteer
            • Dog Hosting Opportunities
            • Campus, Event, and Remote Opportunities
          • Buy Merchandise
          • Spread the Word
          • Donate
            • Sustaining Monthly Gifts
            • Estate and Planned Giving
            • Workplace Giving
            • More Ways to Give
            • Wish Lists
          • Events
            • Fetching Ball Gala
            • Can Do Woofaroo
            • Open House
            • Graduation
  • About
          • About Us
          • Our Humans
          • Our Story
          • Our WAG Center
          • Prison Puppy Program
          • Careers
          • Our Finances & Annual Report
            • Charitable Organization Registration Compliance
          • News
            • Newsletter Archive
          • FAQs for Medical Professionals
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Home / News / An “Angel’s” Four Paws Compensate for Two Hands

An “Angel’s” Four Paws Compensate for Two Hands

April 10, 2024

man sitting on recliner with hands on yellow Lab service dog sitting in front of him“He’s my right-hand man,” says Jan of his Mobility Assist Dog, Logan. Logan, however, compensates not only for Jan’s right hand, but also his left hand and more.

Jan developed type 2 diabetes at age 50. Shortly afterward, the condition led to diabetic neuropathy in his hands and feet and eventually, up to his knees and elbows. He explains, “I can't tell if I'm holding something when I put my hand on it. I know I'm touching it, but I can't feel how much pressure I'm putting on it, so I drop things a lot.”

Balance is also an issue for Jan. He has trouble bending over to pick up things because, as he says, “Where my head goes, my body goes.” He experienced a balance problem about five years ago when walking through a Cub Foods store. Someone knocked into him with a cart, and Jan ended up falling halfway into a display case. Though a shopper graciously helped him up, Jan reports, “That's the day I stopped going out because I realized I could really get hurt.” Although Jan wears a lifeline button that he can use to alert his wife, Penny, or sister-in-law if he falls, that realization of injuring himself, as well as fear of embarrassment, became overwhelming for him. So he began doing all of his grocery shopping online and admits, “I was pretty much a recluse.”

Needing a lifestyle change, Jan—a retired nurse—soon heard about Can Do Canines from a former co-worker—another nurse, and decided to apply. Jan remembers getting the news about Logan and seeing his photo for the first time. He shares, “When I was a student nurse doing my OBGYN rotation, I heard a mother make the comment, ‘How can you fall so deeply in love with someone you just met?’ Penny and I never had children, so I didn't understand that until I saw Logan's picture. I loved him the second I saw his picture.”

Since being matched with Logan, Jan’s adoration for his beloved partner has only grown. “He means the world to me.” Jan’s world has grown too. “Now I get to go grocery shopping, and I can actually pick my own fruit and compare prices.” Plus, Jan says, “I’m not worried about falling,” Jan says, “or if I do fall, he’s going to be there for me.”

Logan is trained to activate push plates, tug open doors, and get Jan’s cane, shoes, and other items, including the pencils Jan drops when doing grayscale drawing—a hobby he can now enjoy again, thanks to Logan.

He is also spending more time in the kitchen again. “I love to cook and bake. Before [Logan], I had curtailed that quite a bit.” Jan is especially impressed when Logan doesn’t even bother licking the spoons he retrieves off the floor.

Saying that his life is “one hundred percent better,” Jan gets tearful when expressing gratitude for his best buddy. “Saying ‘thank you; just isn’t enough to all the people who were involved with Logan from his birth to the day he came home to me … I really do want to let them know that when they work with these dogs and give them to people, they’re not only giving them an assistance dog, they’re giving them an angel.” Instead of wings, he clarifies, these angels have paws.

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Whelping Home — Sheryll Fonseth-Lais
Raisers — Pat and Marti Gerdes
Special Thanks — Jackson Correctional Institution, Stanley Correctional Institution

Previous Post: «woman wearing red shirt and glasses sitting on platform with yellow Lab service dog sitting next to her in front of backdrop with Can Do Canines logos Client Services Coordinator Jen Gravrok Authors Article for Disclo
Next Post: Under Kiki’s Direction, Autism Assist Dog Farmer Plays his Biggest Role Ever Young girl with curly black hair standing outside front door of home holding leash of black Lab service dog sitting in front of her»

Footer

Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs oval logo

Phone iconContact Us

763-331-3000
info@candocanines.org

Map iconLocation

9440 Science Center Drive
New Hope, Minnesota 55428
Directions
Assistance Dogs International Accredited Member websiteCandid. Platinum Transparency 2024 logo  Charities Review Council Meets Standards website

© 2025 Can Do Canines. All Rights Reserved.Contact Us  |  Careers  |  Press Kit  | Accessibility Statement  |  Privacy Policy  |  Site Map

Love reading about my friends?

yellow Lab dog wearing a service dog cape and smiling at camera

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to our e-newsletter