Stephanie’s 32-Year Journey Maintains Record for Can Do Canines Hearing Assist Dogs

As Stephanie opens up her assistance dog scrapbook, the year written on page 1 is 1993. That’s when Stephanie first began her relationship with Can Do Canines—an organization she says, “is very close to my heart.”

Stephanie was about 40 years old at the time and was struggling with degenerative hearing loss. Her audiologist suggested what was then called The Hearing Dog Program of Minnesota (as we only provided hearing dogs at that time), and she remembers, “I think the application was just a few lines on the back of a brochure.” The application fee then: $10.

Stephanie was looking for added security in her life that was progressively becoming more quiet and frightening, and a 25-pound Cocker Spaniel-Lab mix named Sadie was just the ticket. Sadie was rescued from an abusive situation in Northeastern Minnesota. Stephanie says that founder Alan Peters performed her at-home test, and there was no public access test then. Upon certification, Stephanie and Sadie became team #40 for the organization in 1995. 

Alerting Stephanie to the doorbell, phone, alarm clock, and smoke alarm were some of Sadie’s main work tasks. She loved to play, too, by chasing balls and chewing on Nylabones. 

At only 7 years old, Sadie passed away from lymphoma, and Stephanie took some time to grieve. However, it wasn’t more than a few months. “I realized I needed another pair of ears,” says Stephanie. So in 2001, with the organization titled Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, she became team #92 with Jeff, a Sheltie that had been rescued. 

Stephanie states, “The real stability in the early years came from Al.” As more full-time employees were added, “that made all the difference in the world.” Dale Weyrich and Laurie Carlson worked with Stephanie for training and testing, and her new assistance dog even came with a cape this time!

Along with all of the same hearing-alert skills as Sadie, Jeff added snow-plow awareness to his repertoire. He took delight in making sure Stephanie knew when the street was being cleared, but she suspected he was actually more interested in the flashing lights since one of his favorite games was chasing a flashlight’s beam.

But after Jeff was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2011, Stephanie began application number three with Can Do Canines, which was newly planted in its current New Hope location. This time, Stephanie was paired with Stevie, a Terrier mix from Secondhand Hounds. Weighing in at 12 pounds, Stevie was “just a little peanut,” she describes. Julianne Larsen served as their trainer, making them Team #377. 

Stephanie reports that “Stevie the Little Wonder Dog” was so “rambunctious” that his alert tap “was in the middle of my back.” Though he has slowed down a bit now at age 14, he is still happy to work for Stephanie. Stevie came with the newer skills of “Go mat” “Park,” and “Under,” and also initiated alerts for the oven timer and the washing machine buzzer. Stephanie wonders if his special “commando crawl” trick is a product of his time at our Sandstone Prison Program. 

Because Stephanie retired in 2014 from a career as a special education teacher in the Hopkins District, Stevie has been able to retire his skill of alerting to an alarm clock. Since then, they’ve also moved to Moorhead. Although they live in a no-pet condominium complex, as a service dog, Stevie is able to live there and has won over her neighbors and other residents. “He has the capacity to walk into people’s hearts,” Stephanie shares. 

Stevie is the only one of Stephanie’s three Can Do Canines that will live to retirement age, and Stephanie is considering her future options. She is debating getting cochlear implants and is already using Live Transcribe on her phone. Considering those, along with some developing mobility challenges and other concerns, she is unsure right now whether or not a fourth assistance dog is in her plans. 

Regardless, she knows that her life wouldn’t have been the same without her Can Do Canines dogs. She credits each of her dogs for bringing her a special “gift.” Sadie helped her to become more social. With Jeff, she branched out to enjoy more activities together with him. And Stevie has kept her connected to the outside world.

Stephanie has been equally loyal to Can Do Canines. She spoke at our 25th anniversary Fetching Ball Gala and other events/presentations, attended many Can Do Woofaroos (when they were previously called the “Heel and Wheel”), and has taken several of our online classes to stay engaged.

Thinking of her 32-year connection to our organization, she states, “I think Can Do Canines saved my life. I don’t think I’d still be living independently otherwise.”