Marty Lukaszewski and Mobility Assistance Dog Laverne By Sarah Lennander Marty Lukaszewski of Blaine, Minnesota, says, “God gave me a talent to teach.” So he took that talent and became a teacher, working at Minnesota Virtual High School. He works from home most of the week, but on the days he’s in the office he turns a lot of heads. His coworkers come running when they see Marty and his 50-pound black Poodle, Laverne. But she’s not there for looks—she’s there to work, just like Marty. As a Mobility Assistance Dog, Laverne plays an important role in Marty’s life, just …
Can Do Canines
A Diamond in the Ruff
David and Mobility and Seizure Assistance Dog Jewel David and Jewel are a pretty unique team. The first reason is that Jewel is trained in two different assistance dog skills. But this team is unique in a second way—on Thursday, September 14, David and Jewel became the 600th team that Can Do Canines certified! Because of his disability, David needs both mobility and seizure assistance. So in July of 2017 he was matched with Jewel, a Black Labrador Retriever that does both mobility and seizure work. David has neurocognitive issues and peripheral neuropathy. This means he struggles with balance, especially …
Yoda: The Jedi Master of Mobility Assistance
Dianne Ward and Mobility Assistance Dog Yoda By Sarah Lennander In this story, Yoda didn’t become one with the force—he became one with his client, Dianne Ward. In a galaxy not so far away—Shoreview, Minnesota—the two are adjusting to life as a team. In 2006, Dianne developed Guillain-Barre syndrome which left her with residual balance problems and weakness, increasing her risk of falling. Everyday activities that most people don’t think twice about (carrying books up the stairs or turning around to place a cup of coffee on the table) become a potential danger for someone who struggles with balance. Dianne …
These Assistance Dog Skills Run in the Family
Roger Tottingham & Mobility Assistance Dog Whitney Author: Sarah Schaff As a retired Navy veteran residing in Oronoco, Minnesota, Roger Tottingham is no stranger to overcoming challenges and taking care of business as efficiently as possible. However, when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 42 years ago, his lifestyle shifted and he became more reliant on help from others. Roger was able to stay active for a while before needing to use a powerchair, and his wife, Linda, has been a constant, necessary source of his care. Maintaining his independence is one of Linda and Roger’s biggest hopes for the …
A Four-Legged Support System
Kathy Ferrara & Mobility Assistance Dog Harvey Author: Sarah Schaff It takes a remarkable canine to be an assistance dog and an exceptional person to be a special education teacher, so one can only imagine what’s possible when the two forces combine! This is the story of Kathy Ferrara of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and her mobility assistance dog, Harvey, who are happily thriving in their new partnership. During a regular checkup in 2011, a doctor noticed something wrong with Kathy’s eye response. After further testing, she was officially diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. She now …
Review: 2017 Candid Canines Film Fest
Here’s the plain truth about dogs: they’re not always curled up quietly in bed or sitting patiently at your feet waiting for your next brilliant idea. Sometimes they’re trying to cram their 90-pound selves into a tiny pan of water or dropping tennis balls onto your head from the upstairs loft. Once in awhile, when dogs get kooky, their people grab a camera. And that’s how the 2017 Candid Canines Film Fest was born. This year, Can Do Canines hosted the Candid Canines Film Fest outside at Target Field Plaza on July 20 as part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Hundreds …
Congratulations 2017 Summer Graduates!
Congratulations to the 14 Can Do Canines teams who received diplomas on Saturday, June 10 in recognition of graduating from Can Do Canines assistance dog program. Each assistance dog was provided free of charge due to the generous support of our donors. The Graduation Ceremony represents the culmination of a long journey for the assistance dogs and their partners. Beginning with Puppy Raisers, either in the homes of volunteers or at one of six Minnesota and Wisconsin prisons, the dogs are raised and taught basic obedience and early assistance dog skills. After 18 months, they are returned to Can Do …
University of Minnesota Legacy Foundation | Dogs in the Dorm
From left: U of M sophomores Cassidy Jasper, Eliza Theis, Kenwyn Shriner, and Greta Henry with Crush, an 11-month-old Labrador retriever. This year, they helped train and socialize Crush and another future service dog for Can Do Canines through a pilot program, FETCH (Fostering Education and Training Canines in Housing). The dogs live with the students at Bailey Hall on the St. Paul campus. “It’s kind of a life-changer—what we’ve learned about the different types of work these dogs do. We’ve had dogs as pets, but it’s a different relationship. When he’s here, he’s our pet. We have that bond. …
Sun ThisWeek | Assistance Dog Keeps Woman Upright
John Gessner – June 8, 2017 – (Sun ThisWeek) – Burnsville resident, new partner graduate from training. Now on her second assistance dog, Kimberly Hodges still marvels at what the highly trained animals can do. “It is so fascinating to watch these guys work,” the 67-year-old Burnsville resident said. “They’re just amazing. They can do everything but cook dinner and put the dishes away.” Hodges, who has multiple sclerosis, uses her dog to steady her gait and help her keep her balance when she walks. The dog opens and closes Hodges’ cupboards and refrigerator, which have tug fixtures on them. …
Happiness with Daisy
Nancy Lauderman & Hearing Assistance Dog Daisy Author: Jake Grossman As a Hearing Assist Dog, Daisy is trained to help Nancy Lauderman of Minneapolis, Minn. with a variety of essential tasks. Due to nerve damage in childhood, Nancy has limited hearing and lacks a sense of smell. She was also diagnosed about ten years ago with depression and fibromyalgia and she lives with PTSD. With her daughters at home, Nancy’s symptoms were manageable. But after they grew up and moved out, Nancy gradually stopped cooking, fearing that she would burn food or miss the oven timer. She also had trouble hearing …