It was through an advertisement at her local library in Wisconsin that Ann Smetana first learned about Can Do Canines. It’s been almost two years and numerous weekend fosters since, and Ann will happily tell you she believes her family has become Weekend Puppy Raisers for life! In the spring of 2017, the Smetana family started their journey as Weekend Puppy Raisers for Polly, a Black Labrador Retriever being raised at Jackson Correctional Institution (JCI) in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Twice a month they ventured to JCI to pick up their pre-assigned puppy for a few days of socialization. Since …
Feature Stories
Someone Watching Over Him
Casey and Hearing Assist Dog Fallon By Joy Miller Every day Casey deals with progressive hearing loss and difficulty with auditory processing, which forced him away from his career in the medical technology field. He faces this change in his life with great grace and gratitude, due in large part to the loving companions he has by his side every day—wife Linda and Hearing Assist Dog Fallon. Fallon has been trained to alert Casey to sounds he can’t hear like alarms, the doorbell, and the phone. She also nudges him when Linda calls from another room. But Casey especially appreciates …
Ike Makes Big Changes
Andy Anderson and MAD Ike Andy Anderson worked in a manufacturing plant in the 1980s. One day he was running a smelter, melting down die cast and filling up molds weighing more than 250 pounds. He picked up one of the filled molds to load it into a bucket. “I heard a noise and I twisted and there went my back,” Andy says. From there on, Andy became disabled and could not work. His back injury makes it difficult for him to bend over to pick up items and puts him at risk for falling when off balance. To stay …
Volunteer Spotlight: Laurie Gillis
Laurie Gillis was watching the news on a Saturday morning three years ago when she first learned about the Can Do Woofaroo fundraising walk. Looking for a way to socialize her new rescue dog, Barkley, she decided to attend. She remembers, “It was five minutes from my house, it was a really nice Saturday, and I thought, ‘Perfect! I am going!’” And her first Can Do Woofaroo turned into many more. After the event, Laurie decided to check out Can Do Canines further. “I had been looking around for places to volunteer … I love dogs, I love people, and …
A True Energy Saver
Michelle Mehrer and Mobility Assist Dog Gayle By Bill Johnson Like many Minnesotans, Michelle Mehrer crams a lot of outdoor activities into the fleeting warm-weather months. The south Minneapolis resident enjoys long walks around the lakes, as well as to the grocery store, a coffee shop, and several restaurants. She also attends Twins games and concerts. And most mornings, if the weather’s nice, you’ll find her out on the deck eating breakfast. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 28 years ago, Michelle depends on her power chair, along with Mobility Assist Dog Gayle, to lead an active life, regardless of the season. …
First Community Service Dog
Xerxes, one of Can Do Canines most recent graduates, will be leading a life quite different from other graduates. The Black Labrador Retriever was placed not with a person with a disability, but with the Orono Police Department. He’s a Community Service Dog, and the first in Minnesota to serve in this capacity for a police department. As a member of the Orono Police Department, Xerxes will have the important role of comforting and connecting with individuals impacted by trauma or experiencing a mental health crisis in the community. When individuals are experiencing fear, anxiety, or a mental health crisis, …
Grateful for Glory
Cindy Thoreson-Arnold and Mobility Assist Dog Glory By Joy Miller Cindy Thoreson-Arnold and Mobility Assist Dog Glory are a new team, but their relationship is already off to a solid and loving start. Glory, a Black Labrador Retriever, has been Cindy’s assistance dog since January 2018. Glory is not Cindy’s first assistance dog, though. For 12 years before Glory, Cindy worked with Mobility Assist Dog Blue, a constant source of strength and support. Sadly Blue died in the summer of 2017, and Cindy was devastated at the loss not only of Blue as her Mobility Assist Dog, but also as …
A Life Changing Adventure
Levi and Mobility Assist Dog Dempsey Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. But Levi hasn’t let cerebral palsy slow him down. A full-time employee, Levi’s average day consists of a mile walk to and from the train station, a 45-minute train ride, and then working the sales floor at Best Buy. He walks, on average, six to seven miles a day. In fact, after Levi was matched with Mobility Assist Dog Dempsey, he purchased a FitBark, a device that tracks a dog’s steps, to see just how far the two ventured each day. Dempsey …
Behind the Scenes: How We Match Dogs with Clients
Finding the right dog for a client is a process that requires the efforts of many. Every other week the client services coordinators and program trainers sit down to discuss the clients on our waiting list and the dogs in final training. During the matching process many factors are taken into consideration—the energy, personality, and skills of the dog need to be right for the client, and the lifestyle, experience, and personality of the client need to be right for the dog. Using these factors, the client is partnered with their best match. At that time the client visits our …
Thank You Volunteers, from Executive Director Alan Peters
When I think about volunteers, I think about the inspirational words of John Bunyan who said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” As volunteers for Can Do Canines, giving your time means that you give of your life and do for others in ways that they can never repay. Take pride in your accomplishments. As you volunteer your time, you share your life with others and you change the world. Can Do Canines depends on your volunteer efforts everyday. You are our partners in providing these special dogs, these …
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