Can Do Canines is proud to be an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI), a worldwide coalition of not-for-profit organizations that train and place assistance dogs. Last year, ADI and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)—the global leaders in the guide and assistance dog industry—began a collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Between them, IGDF and ADI represent more than 250 assistance and guide dog programs with more than 36,000 active teams in more than 40 countries. This month, ADI and IGDF released a joint position statement on Client Services and Ethics. This latest collaboration demonstrates …
Assistance Dog
Autism Assist Dog Has Brought Confidence and Calm Over the Years
Logan and Gypsy in 2017 It was half his lifetime ago when Logan was paired with Autism Assist Dog Gypsy. Now a 14-year-old eighth grader, Logan was only days away from his seventh birthday when he certified with the black and tan German Shepherd mix dog that Can Do Canines rescued. As Logan’s dad, Aaron, explains, “It’s been amazing for these seven years to watch their relationship grow and change.” He adds, “She quickly caught on to the nuances of Logan. It was like she seamlessly just kind of knew what it was that he needed, and yeah, it’s been …
Jill’s Reprioritization Worked in Our Favor
In recognizing the contributions that Jill Wisdorf has made to Can Do Canines over the past nine years, we might need to actually thank her son. Jill says, “Originally, I did not want to volunteer! In 2014, my son was a junior in high school and wanted to raise a puppy. I wanted new carpet! I didn’t think the two went together. My son signed us up to attend a Tails to Tell presentation. Learning about Can Do Canines and the impact of the organization on both the clients and volunteers had my family and me hooked. We welcomed the …
First Assistance Dog Makes Second One an “Easy Decision”
Get up in the morning. Eat breakfast. Watch TV. Eat lunch. Watch TV. Eat dinner. Watch TV. Go to bed. This routine describes a typical day for Chris before he got a Can Do Canines assistance dog. Born with quad spastic cerebral palsy, which affects his ability to walk, Chris uses a power wheelchair and says, “I can’t just bend over to pick something up.” And having to pick up items is a common occurrence for Chris, who regularly drops items, due to his condition. “It affects my hand movements and the ability to open doors.” He admits that he …
Leah and Auggie Share Unbreakable Bond
Twelve-year-old Leah recently had a major back surgery, fusing nine of her vertebrae with a rod in her spinal column. Fused by her side during recovery has been her new Mobility Assist Dog, Auggie. Leah has spina bifida and is paralyzed from the hips down. While she and her parents, Ty and Jen, have managed well over the years, helping with morning routines has become more difficult for them as she has grown. When Can Do Canines presented at their church in 2023, they were intrigued. Ty says that learning more about the organization, “ended up with us seeing the …
Loving the Dogs While Loving Her Job
In 2012, when Stacy Sheldon-Wilkinson was hired as a part-time staff member, she was one of only a handful of part-time kennel staff members caring for eight dogs in the Can Do Canines kennel. Since then, the kennel, where our program dogs reside in their final few months before being placed with a client, has grown to host approximately 30 dogs at a time, with about a dozen full-time and part-time staff members sharing duties. Soon after starting with us, Stacy began writing protocols for kennel responsibilities, and she earned the role as our first Kennel Manager. Interested in and …
Walking Clients Through the Loss of Their Dog
Anyone who has lost a pet knows that it can feel devastating. The compounding aspect of that animal being one that serves to provide independence and other necessary life skills can be that much worse. Karen and Ben, her career-changed Can Do Canine, offer smiles for the camera. For Can Do Canine graduates who experience the death or retirement of an assistance dog, volunteer Karen Kodzik is there to help. Karen began her relationship with Can Do Canines about eight years ago, hosting dogs and helping at various events. “As my schedule shifted, I could do fostering less and less,” …
Building Our Capacity to Serve
As we celebrate 35 years of empowering individuals with disabilities through the life-changing partnership of assistance dogs, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the donors and volunteers who have made this mission possible. Your generosity has placed more than 900 specially trained assistance dogs with those in need, bringing freedom, independence, and peace of mind to so many lives. Looking to the future, we recognize the growing demand for these services and the need to expand our capacity. That’s why we are excited to share the news of our upcoming expansion project, with a key component being the development of …
Moses and Jason: A Long-awaited Match Made in Heaven
After a snowmobile accident in 1995 left him paralyzed from the chest down, Jason waited a long time to get an assistance dog. Following his accident, Jason spent four months in the hospital recuperating then jumped right into playing sports. He was active and busy and just didn’t feel like the time was right to get a dog. “But I’m less independent now,” Jason says. “I met a guy at church who has an assistance dog, and he told me about Can Do Canines.” Finally ready to take the first step, Jason went to an open house and soon filled …
Appreciating the Positive Effects of an Autism Assist Dog
“Autism affects every aspect of Norah’s life.” This statement, made by Norah’s mom, Kelly, sums up the challenges Norah faces. Kelly shares a few examples validating this, saying, “Norah has had problems sleeping since birth. Norah does not speak. She does repeat words. Norah has few self-care skills. She walks on her toes so she has AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis braces) to help with this.” These challenges, alone, are enough to create anxiety for any parent, and Kelly and her husband, Brian, are no exception. However, what concerned them the most was leaving the house with Norah. Kelly says, “Taking …
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