Natalie Beazer and Mobility Assist Dog Sydney By Tammy Waibel Natalie Beazer suffered from chronic pain for years. After many unsuccessful attempts to find relief, she booked an appointment with an internist. He thoroughly asked questions and after a comprehensive analysis, she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The disorder causes widespread musculoskeletal pain as well as fatigue and issues with sleep, memory, and mood. But Natalie also struggles with migraines and has chronic fatigue syndrome which further limit her ability to do the daily things she would like. Her life was being affected so much that she was unable to work …
Feature Stories
Behind the Scenes: Where Do Our Dogs Come From?
You’ve seen a Can Do Canine proudly walking across the graduation stage or quietly retrieving a dropped item for their person. You understand the training, the time and the resources that go into making them the assistance dog they’ve become. But have you ever wondered how they came to be a puppy in a Can Do Canines training cape? Assistance dog organizations around the world face the unique challenge of creating confident, healthy, intelligent dogs. In order to address this challenge, Can Do Canines maintains a breeding program, allowing us to better control for breed, temperament, and health. Because of …
Volunteer Spotlight: Sherry Fonseth-Lais
When Sherry invited Can Do Canines to speak to her undergraduate class eight years ago, she never anticipated it was going to result in a volunteer opportunity that filled her with joy, love, and purpose. But that’s exactly what happened. A retired veterinarian, Sherry Fonseth-Lais was teaching an animal behavior class at the University of Minnesota in 2010 when she asked Can Do Canines to speak to her class about assistance dogs. Sherry recalls, “Julianne Larsen brought an amazing dog and a human assistant, and they talked about positive training methods and gave a fascinating demonstration, complete with light switches …
5 Things I’ve Gained As A Volunteer
Volunteers are motivated to give of themselves for a variety of reasons—to help their community, to share their time and talent, or to learn a new skill. And volunteers gain different things from their experiences. When we interviewed a group of Can Do Canines volunteers about what they have gained from their time volunteering, here is what they shared. 1- Confidence “That I can do this [train a dog]. That I can raise a dog, and train a dog with the support that I have from Can Do Canines. And I really feel like I’m dong a wonderful job; the …
Years of Doubt Leads to a Life Changing Decision
Amy Falk and Mobility Assist Dog Trackr By Amy Brown Back and forth. For years, Amy Falk of North Branch, Minnesota was on the fence about an assistance dog and originally decided against it because she wasn’t aware of what was available to her. Then a friend from high school told Amy about Can Do Canines and how her own Mobility Assist Dog helped change her life. Amy decided to do some research and soon applied for her own Mobility Assist Dog. Amy was born with cerebral palsy and has been using a wheelchair the majority of her life. She …
Patience Paid Off
Patience Paid Off By Sarah Schaff If you hear ‘Mobility Assist Dog’, you might assume the dog helps their handler move. However, for Mike Rowley of Eagan, Minnesota, an assistance dog means the ability to stand still anywhere and anytime. Mike has a form of muscular dystrophy called Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, meaning the tendons in his legs and hands are shortened, making his leg muscles fatigue quickly. While Mike can walk without adaptive equipment, his main struggle is balance and coordination which puts him at a high risk of falling. His hope when applying for an assistance dog was to …
Newly Discovered Freedom
Kaitlyn Eliason and Autism Assist Dog Yummy By Caty Taborda-Whitt Seven-year-old Kaitlyn Eliason of Lakeville, Minnesota, loves the newly discovered freedom of putting her face in the water during swim lessons, something she wasn’t comfortable attempting just a few months ago before her Autism Assist Dog, Yummy, entered the picture. Kaitlyn has autism, and for years has struggled with anxiety, meltdowns, and trouble focusing on tasks. Her diagnosis came during a preschool evaluation when she was just over three years old, months after her parents Karen and Frederick first became concerned that some of Kaitlyn’s behaviors differed from those of her …
Behind the Scenes: Wisconsin Prison Programs
In this article, we’ll venture across state lines and look into how three correctional institutions in Wisconsin are helping raise future assistance dogs. In February 2016, Can Do Canines began partnering with Stanley Correctional Institution (SCI) in Stanley, Wisconsin, to help raise and train our puppies. In May 2017, we expanded to the neighboring Jackson Correctional Institution (JCI) in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Most recently, we also partnered with a third Wisconsin institution, Chippewa Falls Correctional, to help with weaning new litters. Inmates who are interested in becoming a handler must complete an application, pass a background screening, and have …
Volunteer Spotlight – Sue FitzGerald
Raising and training an assistance dog truly requires the efforts of many, and it wouldn’t be possible without people like Sue FitzGerald, a Can Do Canines volunteer helping with our Wisconsin programs. Sue first heard of Can Do Canines at a Twin Cities dog show eight years ago and knew immediately that she wanted to get involved. After relocating from Minnesota to Wisconsin, she wasn’t sure how she could participate, but as fate would have it she learned we were starting a program in Wisconsin. “One of the best days ever was seeing a local news segment indicating that Can …
Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning’s End
Karen Glander and Mobility Assist Dog Austin By Winona Schultz When Karen Glander was just one year old, she was infected with the Polio virus which affected her right arm and left leg. Then at age 40, she was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, meaning the earlier affected muscles began to further deteriorate She now only has the use of two fingers on her right hand and uses a full leg brace on her left leg at all times, as well as a power chair in public. Her doctors suggested an assistance dog to help her find more independence at home …
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