• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • 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
            • Pups in Prison Event
            • Corporate Partnerships
  • 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
            • Pups in Prison Event
            • Corporate Partnerships
  • 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 / Feature Stories / Page 12

Feature Stories

Ian and Dewey “Walk on” Toward Greater Security

January 19, 2023

Young boy holding an Oreo pack is stading with his yellow Lab service dog in a grocery aisle.

Ian, Autism Assist Dog Dewey, and Ian’s mom pose for a photo. Ian lives in a full house with a busy family, which includes his parents, an older brother, a younger sister, and several family pets. Yet making room for Autism Assist Dog Dewey was no problem for this 8 year old and his family. Ian’s parents, Laura and Chadd, heard about Can Do Canines from friends whose son received an Autism Assist Dog from us not long ago. They were excited, but the moment Ian met Dewey was even more thrilling than they expected. Laura says, “I knew that …

PAW Program is the “Best Buy” in Town

January 19, 2023

Group of volunteers and their dogs in training walking in a hallway.

“Let’s talk about what’s possible,” is the current slogan for Best Buy. So it was only fitting when Best Buy employee and long-time Can Do Canines volunteer Rebeca Sharpe approached us in Spring 2022 to talk about the possibility of a new program for fostering dogs. PAW Program participants work on loose-leash walking. Rebeca is a member of Best Buy’s disABILITIES Employee Resource Group, which was discussing having more assistance animals in training at their corporate headquarters in Richfield. She was already bringing Can Do Canine dog-in-training Waylon with her to work and recalls thinking, “What if we expand that …

Meet Client Services Coordinator Jen Gravrok

January 19, 2023

Can Do Canines staff member posing with a Golden Retriever.

As a dog lover growing up in Minnesota, Jen Gravrok wanted to be a veterinarian. While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, her fascination with animal behavior—especially dogs’— surpassed that original interest. Jen recalls that as she was completing her undergraduate degree, she wanted to learn more. “I applied to study anthrozoology (human-animal interaction) with a professor who specialized in dog-human interaction. This professor was able to get me a full scholarship to study with her in Australia, so I packed my bags and moved down under for four years while I completed my Ph.D. under her supervision.” Jen Gravrok …

Abby’s World Opens up with Sonora by her Side

January 18, 2023

young woman sitting on outdoor sofa with black Lab service dog lying next to her

Just out of college at the age of 22, Abby went to the doctor thinking she had a common illness. What she didn’t expect was receiving a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Once someone who traveled frequently and lived in Vietnam, Abby felt her world shrink significantly as she moved back in with her parents and began navigating her new reality. To complicate things more, a couple of years into her diagnosis, she developed an allergy to adhesives, which are used on more modern diabetes management devices such as wearable glucose monitors and pumps. Abby had to revert to using test …

Energy Conservation is Priority for Amy and Skilled Home Companion Jackson

January 11, 2023

woman sitting on outside porch swing with black Lab dog sitting in front of her

Amy has had multiple sclerosis since 2007, and in the past few years, her disability has become more progressive. “I get lightheaded sometimes when I bend to pick up things off the floor,” she explains. She also has difficult walking more than a few steps unassisted, and it’s not uncommon for her to fall or slip to the floor. “I did my best to keep my cell phone handy,” says Amy. While Amy was working with her occupational therapist in 2021, the therapist suggested that she consider an assistance dog. Amy remembers thinking, “I wonder what a dog could do …

A Diva with a Goofy Side

January 4, 2023

man sitting in rocker on porch with yellow Lab sitting in front of him wearing Can Do Canines service cape

By Mike Branch – Jeff describes his Mobility Assist Dog, Wendy, as “a diva with a goofy side.” She also likes attention, is eager to please, and wants to work. Jeff suffers from painful back problems, making it difficult to bend down and get up again without being in pain. He started experiencing back problems in his 30s after he fell on the ice. Arthritis has weakened his grip, and the pain from his back injury makes it difficult to pick things up off the ground. The pain has made life harder as he gets older. At age 51, even …

An Instant Connection

December 28, 2022

young woman sitting on front steps and hugging yellow Lab dog from behind

By Susan Byers – It’s easy to understand why Kaiya had an instant connection with her 3-year-old Mobility and Seizure Assist Dog, Fargo. Both have a strong work ethic, a steady demeanor, and a creative spirit. As an artist, Kaiya uses a steady hand to create intricate body art with henna. As a hard-working yellow Labrador Retriever, Fargo is always close at hand to support Kaiya in countless—and often playful—ways. Kaiya has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that affects blood pressure, heart rate, and electrolyte balance. Kaiya’s symptoms include dizziness upon rising or …

Jon Embraces Life with a Hearing Assist Dog

December 14, 2022

man sitting on leather sofa with black Lab sitting on front in front of him

By Jessica Kellogg – For years, Jon struggled. Phone calls were missed; smoke detectors and doorbells were unnoticed; the voices of his wife and son were unheard. Jon and his family were living with the daily stress of a part of his world being inaccessible. Until Calla came into his life.    “My wife drove by the Can Do Canines sign countless times before thinking that an assistance dog might be able to help me,” he says. Jon had been aware of guide dogs for the blind and therapy dogs but did not realize the extensive capabilities of assistance dogs or …

Ursa Becomes Jasmine’s “POT” of Gold

December 7, 2022

woman kneeling at bottom of home stairs next to yellow Lab dog wearing Can Do Canines service cape

Jasmine was healthy and active growing up and throughout her teenage years. She says, “I hiked through the mountains of Honduras barefoot because my flip-flops broke, jumped into a waterfall and all these things. Nothing really stopped me, and yet POTS did.” People with POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, might experience lightheadedness, faintness or a rapid heartbeat when changing body positions. Jasmine explains, “It seems like such a minor movement to reach down and get a pen, but … my body has to make up for that change in blood pressure and doesn’t do a good job.” Before she …

First Co-Puppy-Raising Experience a Success!

November 30, 2022

Two women and black Lab standing in front of Can Do Canines sign

Can Do Canines would like to recognize volunteers Tiffany Hendrickson and Dana Kittok and their families for completing the first successful co puppy-raising of a Can Do Canine! Jimi, a 2 ½-year-old Labrador mix, shows us that this can be a great option for some volunteers and dogs. Typically, a single household commits to the puppy-raising journey, spending approximately two years teaching a dog good house manners, general obedience, and how to behave well in public. The Covid-19 pandemic led to many more Can Do Canine puppies requiring puppy raisers than normal due to a shortage of prison programs. This …

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Feature Stories (450)
  • News (165)
  • Uncategorized (16)

Archives

  • May 2025 (3)
  • April 2025 (5)
  • March 2025 (6)
  • February 2025 (5)
  • January 2025 (6)
  • December 2024 (5)
  • November 2024 (6)
  • October 2024 (8)
  • September 2024 (5)
  • August 2024 (3)
  • July 2024 (5)
  • June 2024 (4)
  • May 2024 (7)
  • April 2024 (7)
  • March 2024 (7)
  • February 2024 (6)
  • January 2024 (6)
  • December 2023 (3)
  • November 2023 (5)
  • October 2023 (8)
  • September 2023 (5)
  • August 2023 (5)
  • July 2023 (4)
  • June 2023 (5)
  • May 2023 (5)
  • April 2023 (8)
  • March 2023 (9)
  • February 2023 (5)
  • January 2023 (8)
  • December 2022 (4)
  • November 2022 (5)
  • October 2022 (5)
  • September 2022 (2)
  • August 2022 (5)
  • July 2022 (4)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (5)
  • April 2022 (7)
  • March 2022 (6)
  • February 2022 (8)
  • January 2022 (6)
  • December 2021 (4)
  • November 2021 (7)
  • October 2021 (5)
  • September 2021 (8)
  • August 2021 (4)
  • July 2021 (4)
  • June 2021 (8)
  • May 2021 (7)
  • April 2021 (5)
  • March 2021 (5)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • January 2021 (7)
  • December 2020 (5)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (6)
  • August 2020 (8)
  • July 2020 (4)
  • June 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (3)
  • January 2020 (2)
  • December 2019 (3)
  • November 2019 (3)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (8)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (3)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • November 2018 (5)
  • October 2018 (1)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • July 2018 (5)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (3)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (3)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (5)
  • August 2017 (2)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (6)
  • May 2017 (18)
  • April 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (11)
  • January 2017 (15)
  • December 2016 (5)
  • November 2016 (5)
  • October 2016 (20)
  • July 2016 (10)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (2)
  • April 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (11)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (15)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (11)
  • March 2015 (1)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (4)
  • September 2014 (4)
  • August 2014 (3)
  • July 2014 (2)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (3)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • August 2013 (1)
  • June 2013 (1)
  • July 2012 (2)
  • April 2012 (1)
  • November 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (1)
  • July 2011 (1)
  • March 2011 (2)

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