It’s not uncommon for someone to inquire about a Can Do Canines dog after learning about the organization from someone else. But when Bella knew three others who received a Can Do Canine, she figured it was her turn to apply too. A sophomore, living on campus at Augsburg College and studying graphic design, Bella has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She has some movement and control of her hands and legs, but uses a power chair and needs help with several daily tasks. She admits that she wanted someone—or in this case, something—”to always be there to help me.” Yellow Labrador …
Mobility Assistance Dog
Fabian Becomes Perfect Treatment Component for Complicated Diagnosis
Kara was born with a metabolic bone disorder called Hypophosphatasia. She and the litany of doctors she met with for the first couple of decades of her life couldn’t identify what was causing her symptoms, though. She says there were clues along the way, including easily-fractured bones, missing teeth and her small stature. A range of diagnoses were suggested, including malnutrition at one point. Kara remembers thinking, “I’m a farm girl from Wisconsin. We are not malnourished. Definitely not.” Finally in her late 20s, Kara became the first person in Wisconsin to be diagnosed with this condition. While it’s not …
For Gary, Willow Means Less Falling Down, More Getting Up
“After dealing with Parkinson’s disease for 32 years and having a triple bypass in December, I realized I needed some help,” said Gary, who was recently teamed up with Mobility Assist Dog Willow, a gentle and smart yellow Labrador Retriever. He explained, “My biggest risk is in falling doing everyday tasks. I can do things, but it takes more time and can make me tired. I found I was sitting more and less involved in life.” With Willow, things are looking up for Gary. “Willow helps me get out of a chair and makes me walk,” he said. Because his …
With a Great Dane Comes Great Responsibility
While Soleil used to receive stares for being a young person using a wheelchair, stares now are usually for a much larger reason—a Great Dane-mix Mobility Assist Dog. Soleil always loved the gentle giant breed and adopted Gandalf as a puppy with the intention of him becoming an assistance dog. They had grown up with dogs, participated in 4H, and were confident in training a Great Dane to be a working companion. Still, while working for the Department of Corrections, Soleil heard about Can Do Canines and decided to explore the opportunity for further guidance in training Gandalf. Hoping for …
Qati Brings Balance to Bennett’s Life
Eleven-year-old Bennett remembers when his parents first told him he would be getting an assistance dog. “I was really excited and I was saying that my life might be changed forever.” That’s just what a cute, little black Lab named Qati (“Catty”) has done for him. Born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Bennett explains how his muscles tire easily and movements can pose difficulties, saying that he often feels “unbalanced. It’s like I’m going to fall and then I catch myself.” Qati, who spent some of her first three years in our prison program in Rochester, knows her skills well and …
Oxley’s Ears and Four Paws Compensate for What Zachary Has Lost
Zachary was in eighth grade in 2007 when he suddenly felt sick one day. What was initially suspected to be the flu ended up being bacterial meningitis—an illness that landed Zack in the hospital for 161 days. His mom, Desiree, explains, “Day by day we could see as the blood flow was being compromised to extremities, things would turn purple and then black.” Gradually, Zack had to have his right hand amputated above the wrist, as well as the fingers and thumb on his left hand and both of his legs below the knees. He also lost most of his …
Pria is Earning Best Supporting Role in Jeremy’s Life
At age 17, Jeremy sustained a spinal injury when diving into a pool. “I knew about it right away when I looked down at my legs and saw they weren’t moving,” he says. Jeremy has no movement in his legs, fingers or hands. He relies on others for transportation, and when he drops items, he can’t pick them up. “I don’t want to rely on strangers,” states Jeremy, who is now in his late 30s. That was often the case when he was at work as a greeter in an Eau Claire, Wisconsin, movie theater. So, knowing someone who knows …
Moving Forward in a Different Way with a Different Dog
“Sunshine on four legs” is how Amy describes her new Mobility Assist Dog, Mosby, a 3-year-old black Lab. “Any space he’s in, he just fills it with light,” she said. The light in Amy’s world wasn’t seeming very bright in early 2021. Her previous Can Do Canine, a black Lab named Dinger, developed cancer in 2020 and passed away, after they had been together for eight years. Amy was heartbroken. She and Dinger had navigated a lot together, including college. So Amy, who has cerebral palsy, knew she couldn’t return to a life without an assistance dog. “I didn’t want …
Remaining Open to Possibilities Allowed Steve to Add Quince to His Life
Shutting doors. That’s what Steve, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, says is one of the most difficult tasks for him to manage on his own, especially when he’s using his power chair. “That’s problematic,” he explains. “I go through, and then with the chair and the footrest, you gotta lean in and you start trying to shut the door, but you have to back up because otherwise it’s going to hit. So that was my biggest challenge as far as being truly limited.” Steve talks in the past tense about that challenge, because he now has Mobility …
Even Without a Diagnosis, a Furry Companion is the Best Prescription
In high school, Maya went from being able to work as a barista to just a few months later being unable to stay upright for a shift. Her ability to withstand activity has continued to diminish over the past five years, and she has spent that time looking for answers from many medical professionals. “I think anyone with a chronic or rare illness knows that half the battle is finding a doctor to figure out what’s wrong with you. I’ve had several diagnoses in my life, some of them fit and some of them have not,” says Maya. Some conditions …