Beneficial Bert

Heather Aanes & Mobility Assist Dog Bert

For Heather Aanes of Brainerd, Minn. life is constantly in flux. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her 20’s, new difficulties arise as old challenges recede—only to return again unexpectedly. Despite this recurring pattern, Heather remains optimistic.

“I am continually trying to move forward in my life with MS,” Heather says. “I try to make adjustments to continue to be successful. I work, raise two girls and live a very full life.”

However, Heather admits that it is not always easy. She has little use of the lower half of her body and uses a wheelchair to get around. MS has taken its toll on her stamina and limited her coordination. Heather’s daughters lend a hand by opening and closing the footrests on her wheelchair and getting the door for her. When the girls are not around however, Heather is left to get by her own. So to lessen the load on her family and live a more independent life, Heather decided to apply for a Can Do Canines assistance dog.

“An assistance dog could help me both physically and emotionally,” Heather wrote in her application. “Physically, I could use help with opening doors, picking up items that I can’t reach and bringing me things. Emotionally, an assistance dog could relieve my stress of feeling alone or anxieties of falling.”

Can Do Canines partnered Heather with a two-year-old black Labrador retriever named Bert. The Puppy Program Volunteers who helped raise him describe Bert as a “high energy dog who loves to work.” One volunteer says she was elated by his response to commands. “I was impressed with how well he listened to me on day one. I was expecting a trial period for him to get to know me and thus ‘the rules.’ I’m happy to say that didn’t happen!”

Regarding the training process, Heather says that her favorite part was when they first met. “It was fun just getting to know him. The first day that we stayed together was an adventure,” Heather says. “I was nervous and I think he was nervous a little bit too, so that was exciting.”

In no time at all the nervousness passed and the two have become a great, working team. Before she had an assistance dog when Heather needed to close the laundry room door she would have to grab hold of the handle, put her chair in reverse and maneuver it just right to get the door shut. Now Bert grabs hold of an attached rope with his mouth and with a quick tug of his head pulls the door closed. A huge improvement!

The laundry room door isn’t the only one Bert helps with; perhaps due to its inside contents, one of Bert’s favorite skills is helping with the refrigerator door. It’s in a tight spot in the kitchen that used to be problematic for Heather to get in and out of. But now Bert makes the process easy and painless; he loves to pop it open and close it with the nudge of his nose.

Bert does more that act as a doorman. He retrieves items that Heather drops, pulls off her socks and will open and close the footrests on her wheelchair. For Heather the footrest skill is very beneficial. She explains to Bert performing the skill is just second nature; but for her it’s a step forward toward living a more independent life.

“My girls no longer feel like they need to be right there with me and I don’t have to worry about leaning over too far and possibly falling. That makes every aspect of my day a little bit easier.”

To thank Can Do Canines for providing her with an assistance dog at no charge, Heather is already working to pay it forward and help future graduates. To celebrate Bert turning two years old, she set up a fundraising page, in honor of his “Bert-Day,” and encouraged friends and family to support Can Do Canines.

“An assistance dog is a benefit to my family and me directly—thank you so much,” Heather says. “It’s been amazing all the way along. I appreciate everything Can Do Canines has done.”

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Puppy Raiser—The Inmate Handlers at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Faribault
Special Thanks—The Tews Family
Dog Source—Sherry Bradley