Living and Exploring–Day or Night–Without Apprehension

Being able to live freely and function with confidence on a daily basis, at home and in public, even when you don’t feel comfortable or safe, are just a couple of reasons Glenice is grateful for Can Do Canines. 

Glenice is deaf. She was diagnosed with Congenital Progressive Hearing Loss when she was a teenager, and over the course of 30 years, her hearing dwindled until she became completely deaf. She is able to hear with cochlear implants, but those are activated with processors. When those aren’t on—and they aren’t on consistently throughout the day—she isn’t able to hear anything at all. 

When a Disability Becomes a Daily Nuance 

Glenice never felt comfortable being away from her Owatonna home alone, and this greatly affected her family life. The family constantly found ways to make sure she was never left alone, and as a result, she felt the burden of these decisions every time they were made.

This led her to apply to be matched with an assistance dog. More than that, though, she wanted to feel comfortable and safer when alone, whether at home or in public, day or night.

Life With a Service Dog

The day she was scheduled for her initial interaction with Yates, a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever, Glenice felt apprehensive, but it went well. Her favorite interactions with Yates have been going outdoors—whether it’s day or night—as they build trust as a team and as their bond grows stronger.

The greatest part of this new chapter in Glenice’s life is that she no longer feels apprehensive or that she’s missing out on everyday interactions. If the doorbell rings, an alarm sounds or her phone rings, Yates alerts her to these sounds so that she can function safely, securely and confidently.

From Glenice to the Can Do Canines community: “THANK YOU! I realize a lot of time, care and training goes into getting a dog ready to meet a person, who will benefit from having a service dog. The words “thank you” don’t seem like enough. Thank you all for giving your time and care to get Yates here.”

 

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Great Start Home: Frank & Denise Barger
Puppy Raiser: Stanley Correctional Institution
Special Thanks: Gail Kittock, Marlena Bolden
You: Thank you for your donations!