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 …
puppies
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 …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Raising Puppies for a Purpose
NEW HOPE, Minn. – “Believe it or not, this is the hardest thing to teach.” “The leash?” “Yeah, so that they don’t pull.” Dee Hollerud continues teaching, while she guides a puppy along slowly with his leash. “It’s pretty much like raising a toddler. It really is. They have their toys out all over the place, they want to learn new things,” Hollerud said. “And, so if we’re playing the game of ‘Nudge’… yes! Then, she’s eventually going to translate that to ‘nudge’ the button.” Dee is a puppy raiser for Can Do Canines. Over the years, she’s taken 7 …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Protecting the Puppies
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. —Most everyone loves puppies, but having a living room full of them can be a challenge. “Oh, it’s a lot of work,” said Kolleen Herr, a volunteer with Can Do Canines. Kolleen’s living room is filled with the joyful sounds and smells of five puppies, only they don’t belong to her. “I am a whelping home for Can Do Canines. And, what we do is – the mom comes to our house one to two weeks prior to delivery.” Kolleen actually helps with the birthing process, then over the next five weeks she introduces the puppies to …