When Your Life Suddenly Changes To have the life you know taken away in an instant is an unthinkable event. In 2009, it became Dawne’s reality. Dawne sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that resulted in a delayed grand-mal seizure. Months later she fell into a coma and developed further complications including seizures, episodes of a sudden chemical imbalance, migraines, overall mobility weakness, fatigue, and pain. Healing has been a long journey. She had to relearn how to talk, walk. Dawne tried everything she could to regain her independence but faced a debilitating disability. She felt like she lost who …
assistance dogs
On Her Own but Not Alone
When Debi Stave’s daughter recommended she look into applying for an assistance dog, Debi could not have imagined what a difference a canine companion could make in her life. Debi had never owned a dog before and is now living proof that it’s never too late to learn a new trick. She has been adjusting to life with Parkinson’s disease for the past eight years and didn’t initially think she needed a dog to help her. Debi remembers wondering, “Well what could he do for me?” Her initial doubt changed quickly, once Stanley moved in “I learned different, having him,” She …
Our 700th Team! Aidan and Abbot: A Perfect Balance
By Tina Mortimer 12-year-old Aidan has a big personality, which makes him naturally at ease in front of a camera—a good thing since he’s been on camera quite a lot lately. He’s appeared in educational videos for his middle school, his Boy Scout troop, Can Do Canines, and most recently, in a story for Fox News. The network featured Aidan and his Mobility Assist Dog, Abbot, for being the 700th pair brought together through Can Do Canines. This was a huge milestone, not only for Aidan and Abbot but for our 30-year-old organization. Hearing Aidan speaks, you’d never guess he …
Volunteer Spotlight: Catherine Bjerkebek
If you’ve ever been to the Fetching Ball Gala then you know it’s quite the event. From the silent auction to the games, from the program to the food, it is clear that there are a lot of balls in the air. And one of the very important people keeping everything in rotation is Catherine Bjerkebek. “I first heard about Can Do Canines from a friend who lived in New Hope,” Catherine says, “Her mother had raised and loved several Golden Retrievers, and when her husband passed away, she was feeling very lonely. My friend thought that it might be …
A Perfect Partner
Tim and Mobility Assist Dog Leonard Uncertainty and a pressing need Tim wasn’t sure what to expect when he first applied for an assistance dog. Yet, since Mobility Assist Dog Leonard came into his life, every day has held many life-changing experiences. Tim is living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, and when he first sought out an assistance dog, his biggest need was help retrieving dropped items. Only five years, he was fully ambulatory. Since then, his multiple sclerosis has progressed and he now requires daily use of a wheelchair. His needs require a unique partner and Leonard is a …
Volunteer Spotlight: Jackie Culver
Wisconsin resident Jackie Culver has found that being a Prison Foster with Can Do Canines allows her to have dogs in her life while still allowing her to travel in her retirement. “I first heard about Can Do Canines from my daughter Jamie Mueller,” Jackie says. “She knew the only reason I didn’t have my own dog was because I’m gone often. She had seen an article on the back of their newspaper about Can Do Canines and went online to find out more. She and her husband got into volunteering with their first Great Start. My first pup was …
A Sense of Calm
Autism can be a nonstop source of anxiety for a child with autism and their families. The child is often uncomfortable, stressed, and uneasy. Parents are on constant alert, worried about what the next situation may hold. Such was the case for eight-year-old Ryan from and his mother, Beth. “Our concerns were that he was just too good of a kid,” Beth says. “He was quiet. He never cried.” Ryan’s overall development was delayed, causing considerable concern for his family. “He had low muscle tone,” Beth remembers. “He didn’t sit until eight months, didn’t walk until 22 months. Speech never …
Volunteer Spotlight: Barb Verhage
Barb Verhage began volunteering for Can Do Canines in 2012 after entering retirement. Her first volunteer role was as a Puppy Socializer. She was tasked with engaging and socializing the puppies in the kennel. Quick to take on more responsibility, Barb then became an outing volunteer, a role she continues to do every Wednesday alongside Joanne Nichols and Lisa Hathy. This trio brings dogs in training into the community for extra socialization and to work on obedience skills in new environments. “It’s fun to go out with three dogs because people notice you more. You get a little more attention …
A Hero for a Hero
A Hero It’s 2005 and Sgt. Corey Briest is riding in a humvee as a member of the Army National Guard drive through Iraq. He’s in the third vehicle of the convoy. The first humvee passes through a checkpoint. As the second moves forward, a roadside bomb explodes. Corey’s humvee stops to assess the situation. Serving as their squad’s medic, Corey knows they have to assist the injured—but when they move on, their humvee is hit as well. “I trust Corey with my life,” says 1st Sgt. George Arends, a friend, and a fellow soldier. “Sgt. Briest displays all the …
A More Independent Life
Life Before Rex Vicki has adapted to life with Parkinson’s over the past 18 years. It makes basic tasks challenging and at times unsafe, such as getting in and out of the car, using her right hand, leaning over, or walking. She reached out to Can Do Canines in the hopes of finding a dog who could provide the mobility assistance she needed. A Good Match Can Do Canines paired Vicki with Rex, a two-and-a-half-year-old Black Labrador Retriever with the skills of an assistance dog champ. Rex performs such duties as picking up dropped items, alerting a family member if …
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