I
ngrid Hofmann & Mobility Assist Dog Judge
Being profoundly deaf and having severe Vestibular Ataxia made living alone both difficult and dangerous for Ingrid Hofmann of St. Paul, Minn. In addition to being unable to hear important sounds, such as a door knock or a fire alarm, the inner ear damage from the ataxia limits Ingrid’s ability to maintain her balance while walking. This has led to frequent falls and subsequent emergency room visits for concussions. Luckily, Can Do Canines partnered Ingrid with a dog that acted as both a Hearing and Mobility Assist Dog!
In 2005, Can Do Canines matched Ingrid with Bright, a three-year-old golden retriever. Bright became Ingrid’s ears at home and helped steady her as she walked in public. The difference was night and day. Family, friends, and neighbors could knock on her door and expect a response. She became aware of the sounds around her and knew when someone was entering the house—even if she was in the basement reading. When out in public, Ingrid found that holding onto Bright’s harness not only helped her get around more easily, but it acted as a gateway to conversation.
“My experience with people out in public changed,” Ingrid says. “Instead of people staring at me— unsure about what was “wrong”—they would approach me with a smile and ask questions about Bright.”
Sadly, after 9 years of solid teamwork, Bright developed cancer in his right front leg and passed away in 2014. Ingrid quickly realized how limited her activities had become after Bright’s passing. Instead of heading out freely with her assistance dog, Ingrid had to plan activities with others ahead of time to make sure she could safely navigate new environments. Losing her independence was not something Ingrid was willing to accept, so she applied to Can Do Canines for a successor dog.
In June 2015 Can Do Canines matched Ingrid with Judge, a two-year-old black Labrador retriever. Sometimes it is hard for a successor client to remember the challenges of working with a young dog; despite the challenge Ingrid was tireless in her training with Judge. As the two perfected their partnership, they became a certified team right before Ingrid jettisoned off to pursue her studies at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C.
In a new city and at a new school Judge was a trusted companion allowing Ingrid to explore their new environment with full confidence. Ingrid would grab onto Judge’s harness in public and they would safely traverse the new streets with ease. She felt more comfortable traveling with Judge, not only because of the support he provided, but because he would be on hand in case of an emergency. Judge clued Ingrid into the sounds of the new city and when at home he alerted her to sounds she such as the door knock, coffee maker and alarm clock.
Judge travels with Ingrid everywhere, including to an elementary school in Maryland where she taught her practicum. Within no time, Judge became the cool kid in class. The fifth grade students always seemed to come to Ingrid for help and would manage to sneak in a little “Judge time” in the process. The students’ beloved fiddle clay or sand, used to help manage their stress, soon lay ignored on the back table because they found Judge even more calming. To celebrate “Pi-Day” on March 14, the students even brought in pies and apples for Judge. The students made sure to explain the function of Pi to Judge before he could eat a bit of the apples—his favorite food.
Ingrid is cognizant of the many volunteers that raised and trained Judge to help him grow up and become such a successful assistance dog. “Thank you to the Bloomquist family who provided his first home!” Ingrid says. “They taught Judge what a real family is.”
Her gratitude extends to the donors whose contributions made his training possible, to learn—not one—but two life-changing skill sets.
“Without you—a miracle like Judge would not be possible! Thank you.”
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Puppy Raiser—The Bloomquist Family
Special Thanks—The Inmate Handlers at the Federal Correctional Institute at Sandstone; The Inmate Handlers at the Federal Correctional Institute at Waseca
Dog Source—Julie Mach
Name-A-Puppy Donor—Susan Forsberg
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