On Tuesday, August 30, Can Do Canines brought seven assistance dogs-in-training to their temporary training home at the Federal Medical Center, located in Rochester, Minn. This resumes this facility’s Prison Puppy Program that has been paused since the pandemic began. Can Do Canines are assistance dogs trained for clients who live with disabilities that involve mobility challenges, hearing loss or deafness, seizure disorders, diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness, or childhood autism. Being trained in a prison setting may be one stop on the journey for many of these dogs in training. While there, each dog will share a cell with …
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Foster Volunteers Needed
With more people enjoying summer vacations and traveling, Can Do Canines currently has a greater need for foster volunteers. These Twin Cities volunteers will help care for a dog that is destined to be an assistance dog for a person with a disability. Volunteer experiences can be tailored to meet various commitment levels. Fosters who offer “Great Start Homes” take in a 10-week-old puppy for 2-3 months. Those in the Puppy-Raiser role may have a future assistance dog for 18-24 months. Additional long-term and short-term options are available, and Puppy Sitters may just get their “puppy fix” by hosting a …
Two Can Do Canines Supporters to Bike Across Canada, Raising Funds for Can Do Canines
Peter Hilger is an architect, a Professor of Construction and Facility Management at the University of Minnesota and a longtime Can Do Canines supporter. Peter used his architectural skills to design the current Can Do Canines facility, having also advised on previous location plans. What he has designed for this summer, though, is completely different: a 5,700-mile bike route across Canada. This will be Hilger’s 21st lengthy summertime bike trip. However, upon encouragement from colleagues, he will use this 2022 trek to raise funds for Can Do Canines and two other nonprofit organizations that are close to his heart: NPH …
A Thundering Change
As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” However, April showers often include thunder, and your dog might suddenly be responding in a new way to this noise, among others. Casey O’Connell, our certified veterinarian technician, explains that as dogs age, their reactions to certain sounds might change. While thunder, for instance, might not have any effect on a dog for its first ten years or so, suddenly it might become an anxiety-producing experience, with symptoms of panting, shaking, etc. However, the reverse might also be true. Dogs who have anxiety to thunder for their younger life may stop …
Help Support us with Target Circle
We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us! Now through June 30th, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how Target’s donation will be divvied up. Find out more about Target Circle here: www.target.com/circle. We’re asking our supporters to help us make the most of this incredible opportunity. Every vote counts to help us receive a portion of the available Target funds as we …
Volunteer Coordinator Needed
Interested in fetching a new opportunity for your life? Consider becoming part of our pack. Whether you want to fully interact with our furry residents every workday, serve our many wonderful volunteers or clients, or help ensure that we can provide our dogs free of charge to those who need them, a Can Do Canines career might be a perfect fit. We are currently taking applications for a Volunteer Coordinator. If you or someone you know might be a good candidate for this position, we encourage you to check out the position description.
Fetching Ball Gala Being Held February 26
Can Do Canines invites the public to its annual Fetching Ball Gala, taking place Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. This year’s event will be held at the DoubleTree Bloomington (7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN). Participants will enjoy an inspiring client story, a unique look into the Can Do Canines prison dog training program, fabulous auctions and an entertaining performance by comedian and storyteller Bob Stromberg. KARE 11 Reporter/Anchor Rena Sarigianopoulos will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Tickets must be purchased no later than February 16. All proceeds help Can Do Canines provide specially trained assistance dogs to people with …
Join Our Kennel Staff
Are you an extremely reliable, conscientious person? Do you love animals? Do you like helping people? Join us in our mission of enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs by providing excellent, consistent care to our program dogs and their feline co-workers! Check out the job posting on our Careers page.
Attend an Open House February 5
We will be hosting an open house on Saturday, February 5, from Noon-2 p.m., at our campus. Potential clients, volunteers, or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability. We are especially excited to offer this open house, because there is currently a minimal wait list for some types of assistance dogs. All Can Do Canines dogs are provided to clients free of charge. There is no pre-registration for this event, so please join us on February 5. Take a …
Career Opportunities Available
Would you or someone you know like to spend some quality time around our dogs? We are urgently looking for multiple people to help out part-time in our kennel. Also, we have a great possibility for someone who has excellent fundraising and communication experience. Please see the job descriptions on our Careers page.