Dog Walkers Jeff and Laurie Have Really Stepped Up

In a strange way, cats are inevitably responsible for leading married couple Laurie Mackert and Jeff Anderson to the path as dog-walkers for Can Do Canines. Laurie and Jeff started as short-term dog hosts in Winter 2022, but Laurie reports, “It turned out to be too stressful for our cats.” 

Laurie had already been volunteering then as a dog walker at the Animal Humane Society (AHS), and a fellow volunteer, Mike McLaughlin, who walked both there and at Can Do Canines recommended our organization to her. “He had nothing but good things to say about his role at Can Do Canines and dog walking. He told me these were the dogs that won the lottery, being so well cared for and loved,” says Laurie. 

Jeff eventually joined Laurie in walking dogs, and these days, they do so reliably every Tuesday. Laurie states, “It's the easiest volunteer role I've ever performed, and I've volunteered at AHS, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (where she and Jeff also walk dogs), Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, and CEAP Meals on Wheels.”

Of the two of them, Laurie retired first, and Jeff shares, “Seeing her volunteering, it became my inspiration for what I wanted to do when I retired.” They now both volunteer at multiple places 4-5 days a week. Jeff says, “Volunteering is so gratifying and you get to create social bonds with people that share your interests.” He adds that Can Do Canines was a great place to get started, and he has especially enjoyed seeing “how much the dogs want to please the humans in their life.  At Can Do Canines, we see how the experience between humans and dogs should be.”

Working with such well-trained dogs ends up being a bonus in various ways. Laurie shares that not long ago, she accidentally forgot to close the door latch for one of our double (shared) kennels when bringing a dog out to walk. She says that Jeff told her that he noticed the remaining dog “peeking out of the kennel, wondering if he could exit.” The perfect gentleman stayed put until Jeff relatched the kennel door. 

While Laurie and Jeff are impressed with the “very clean, healthy” kennel environment, it’s clearly the “amazing,” “stunning,” and “sweet” dogs within those walls that keep them coming back as walkers. Laurie says, “Your responsibility is to come properly dressed for the weather, be it hot, cold, raining, or snowing. It's not hard to do. And the steps are good for your body and soul, as is the interaction with the dogs.”

It’s not hard for us to feel grateful for all the miles Laurie and Jeff are putting in to help our dogs get additional exercise, attention, and care. We’re glad they stepped up to take these steps!