Bringing Out the Best in Each Other

Nancy Lauderman is the type of person who cares for everyone and is always willing to help or share what she can. The chance to focus on caring for herself recently came in an unexpectedly furry form.

In her childhood, Nancy experienced physical trauma that caused her equilibrium and hearing to be impaired. She tends to miss certain sounds that are meant to keep her safe. Due to nerve damage, her balance is unstable and she loses it easily. Leaning over or reaching usually result in a continuous motion without the ability to steady herself. Additionally, she lives with fibromyalgia and arthritis, making it incredibly painful to lower herself and get back up when retrieving an item on the floor.

At home, Nancy has learned to pick up some items with her toes, but in public, she relies on cautious movements or other people to help with dropped objects. Living independently but limited by mobility and fear, Nancy decided to prioritize her well-being by applying for an assistance dog from Can Do Canines.

A Match Made in Heaven

Apollo is a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever, small in stature and buttery blonde, with a truly unique soul. He believes every living thing is a friend and loves Nancy more than life itself.

Apollo is learning to alert her to noises or to go to the source of a sound she would otherwise miss. He eagerly retrieves anything Nancy needs from lower surfaces, tugs and closes drawers, and cleans up his toys to the bin where they belong.

Nancy also lives with post-traumatic stress, which has become much more manageable since Apollo came into her life. She was barely able to sleep, but now his life-saving companionship allows her to fully rest. Nancy says that before having an assistance dog, “I never left my [Minneapolis] apartment,…but because of Apollo, I’ve met so many good people!” Previously unable to trust strangers enough to go out on her own, Nancy is now enthusiastically active in her community.

A Puppy Finds his Purpose

Nancy’s family has quickly come to love Apollo tremendously as an incredible dog, as well as a means to a new quality of life for her. Nancy calls him “a sensitive soul that is finely attuned to people’s emotions.” She shares a profound appreciation with everyone who contributes to Can Do Canines and shaped Apollo’s life saying, “They did a wonderful job! Thank you so much because he’s a wonderful boy; he is so good for me and does so much for me.”

 

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Great Start Home: Judy Proell
Puppy Raiser: Emma Persoon
Special Thanks: Stanley Correctional Institution
Dog Donor: ABC
You: Thank you for your donations!