Not long after being certified as a team in 2010, Terri and Seizure Assist Dog Brody practically became local celebrities. Terri has a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS), similar to a pacemaker, implanted in her chest that Brody was trained to trigger by pressing a magnet on his collar to Terri’s chest when she’s lying on the ground. Doing so can stop the seizure. At the time, they were the first team known in the world to do this, earning them media attention. For Terri, who has regular seizures, due to being involved in an explosion while working as a police …
Service Dog
Autism Assist Dog Pippi Becomes the Center of Giovanni’s World
Ten-year-old Giovanni loves to go to the park. His parents, Alex and Kristy, explain that since he has Autism Spectrum Disorder, park outings sometimes meant that Giovanni would lose track of where he was in relation to the adult providing supervision. As Alex says, Giovanni would “get in his own world.” Now, however, Giovanni has Autism Assist Dog Pippi in his world. “She keeps him aware of his surroundings,” says Alex. “He knows she’s around and he looks for her.” And it’s not difficult to pick out Pippi. She’s the black Labrador Retriever with the bright eyes and the tails …
Scoring the Goal of a Lifetime
A young man that zooms on the ice in full hockey gear is generally not what people would envision as an assistance dog handler. When the game is over though, Brady swaps his hockey stick for the leash on his trusted lifeline. Brady was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 11 years old. A few years ago, as he was planning to move away to college and live on his own, he and his family began to worry more about his safety. His family doctor recommended he look into a Diabetes Assist Dog from Can Do Canines, and in late …
Jo Finds New Educational Cause Thanks to Hearing Assist Dog Gladys
A few decades ago in her early 20s, Jo was about to start a role of educating others when she first became aware of a disability. “I failed a hearing test for student teaching,” she admits. Although she hadn’t even realized her hearing was as bad as it was at that time, she continually lost more hearing and went “through every hearing aid that there was.” She then got a cochlear implant, but acknowledges she still misses sounds and parts of conversations, despite her best lip-reading efforts. Jo says, “I was withdrawing a lot socially because I wasn’t sure that …
Attend an Open House February 5
We will be hosting an open house on Saturday, February 5, 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. We are especially excited to offer this open house, because there is currently a minimal wait list for some types of assistance dogs. All Can Do Canines dogs are provided to clients free of charge. There is no pre-registration for this event, so please join us on February 5. Take a …
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 …
Volunteer Spotlight: Susie Baker
Susie Baker first became a Puppy Raiser in 2013. Since then, 22 different Can Do Canines have made their way through the Baker home. She’s also helped put on the Gala, Woofaroo and graduation events and has contributed her creative talents making Name-a-Puppy cards and photo books for team donors. When asked how she first heard of Can Do Canines, Susie said, “When my daughter was in college, a friend’s family was very involved with Can Do Canines. Her friend used to bring the dogs over to play in our fenced-in yard and it was then that I learned about …
Lindsy Now Raising Consciousness so Others Won’t Have to Fear Being Unconscious
By Ian Hebeisen Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, Lindsy has spent most of her life battling blood sugar swings. Now a couple decades later, she’s found a companion that enables her to live to the fullest: Ulric, a yellow Lab and Diabetes Assistance Dog from Can Do Canines. During the last few years, Lindsy has begun experiencing lows in her blood sugar that she didn’t notice. In serious instances, a drop in blood sugar could leave her unconscious. As a mother of three with a husband serving in the military, Lindsy felt afraid to be …
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 …
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