“I used to fall 2 or 3 times a week,” says Karen, referring to the effects of having her leg amputated below the right knee in 2020. In late 2013, a joint in Karen’s foot collapsed, prompting a series of reconstruction surgeries—several of which were unsuccessful. She then developed type 2 complex regional pain syndrome, a neurological condition associated with intense or prolonged pain. By the time the amputation was necessary, mobility was a real challenge. “I had not walked in six years, Karen explains. “It was like having to learn how to walk again, and now I’m having an …
Can Do Canines
Ruby Aims to Make More Red-Letter Days for Tiffany
Tiffany says of her Can Do Canine, Ruby, “I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.” Tiffany has had dogs all her life, but never one with a black spot on their tongue, and not a skilled assistance dog before. Ruby, though, is committed to proving her worth. This beautiful black Lab has been trained for both hearing and mobility assistance to help Tiffany deal with symptoms caused by a 2020 traumatic brain injury. The risk of falling and hurting herself when bending over is one of Tiffany’s biggest fears, so Ruby is happy to pick …
Autism Assist Dog Rully Brings a Sense of Calm to Charlie’s LIfe
By Jessica Kellogg – Charlie is an outdoorsy kid; he loves to swim, camp, and fish. He is the middle of three brothers and loves animals. Charlie also has autism. He often struggles in public situations, especially where he is expected to stay calm and regulated. For years, this has meant that he would elope if a situation became overwhelming. “I can’t tell you the number of times he just disappeared,” says Charlie’s mom, Katie. “It almost got to the point where I stopped panicking, so we had to stop doing all the typical fun kid things.” When Charlie was …
David and Niles enjoy their new adventure together
Mobility Assist Dog Niles is putting on the miles. That’s because Niles was matched with David, who is known for his love of outdoor adventures. It was one such adventure in July 2019 that changed the trajectory of David’s life. While on a biking expedition with friends, David had a near-fatal fall off a cliff above the Mississippi River. The accident caused a spinal cord injury, leaving David with no movement in his legs and limited use of his hands and fingers. He says that in addition to being able to weakly pinch items with one hand, “I can kind …
Independence Day Means Even More Now for Megan
By Mike Branch – Megan was paired with her service dog, Iggy, just after Independence Day—July 4—a fitting time to receive the Mobility Assist Dog who would have such a profound impact on her daily life. Megan lives with a rare, progressive disease called Friedreich’s ataxia that results in diminished capacity for movement and loss of sensation over time. Since Freidreich’s ataxia is a progressive disease, actions that others take for granted have become more difficult for Megan. Picking up dropped items, opening doors, and even getting around in her wheelchair can be challenging and time-consuming, requiring more attempts and …
Counting on Franny: How a Diabetes Assistance Dog Makes a Difference
By Susan Byers – As the saying goes, there’s safety in numbers. For Heather, a Diabetes Assistance Successor dog has provided a safety net for preventing her blood sugar numbers from falling into the dangerously low range. By the numbers, Heather has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years. That means taking countless blood glucose tests and innumerable insulin injections, while also calculating carbohydrates and activity levels. But from the first moment she was diagnosed at age 19, Heather was doggedly determined to manage the disease. Refusing to let diabetes hold her back, she took charge. “I was a …
Ian’s Calming Presence Extends Beyond His Facility
Well over a year ago, Travis and Kevin, both supervisors of M Health Fairview Ambulance Operations, were discussing having Facility Dogs as part of their EMT programs. Not quite ready to take on the challenge himself, Travis remembers telling Kevin something like, “You do that and we’ll see what happens.” Kevin did, bringing Can Do Canine Clayton on board at his Forest Lake location in 2022. The effects were immediate. It was then, after seeing the positive interactions that Clayton was having that Travis thought, “I’m in!” So, in Summer 2023, Travis introduced Facility Dog Ian to his co-workers at …
We’re Fortunate to “Fetch” Volunteer Lexy Hilton
Lexy Hilton has been a key volunteer through our University of Minnesota FETCH (Fostering Education Through Campus Hosting) for five semesters so far. We asked her to share her experiences of being a Can Do Canines volunteer, and she did not disappoint! See what Lexy has to say. What made you want to volunteer with Can Do Canines? Before coming to the University of Minnesota to study animal science, I had never lived a day without having dogs in the home. Moving away from my family and pets was a huge social adjustment, and so as soon as I …
New Chapters for Emily and Lewis
By Mary Gunderson – Emily and Mobility Assist Dog Lewis see eye-to-eye…and have every day since they met. She spotted him first, but “he greeted me right away, so friendly and snuggly.” Ever since meeting in April, Emily relishes the moments when the two have locked eyes, she adoring her curly white companion. “It’s like he’s staring into my soul,” she says. Emily has several chronic illnesses, including a primary immunodeficiency; and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which causes connective tissue issues and pain. Aside from the physical symptoms, their ongoing, unpredictable natures can lead to anxiety attacks. For seven years, Emily had …
Open House: March 9, 2024
We will be hosting an open house on Saturday, March 9, from noon-2 p.m., at our campus. Potential clients, volunteers, or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability. There is no pre-registration for this event, so please join us on March 9. You will be asked to share some contact information at our registration table upon arrival. Take a virtual tour of our campus. Through a self-guided tour, attendees can: Can Do Canines Journey: Part 1 Hear from a …
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