In a strange way, cats are inevitably responsible for leading married couple Laurie Mackert and Jeff Anderson to the path as dog-walkers for Can Do Canines. Laurie and Jeff started as short-term dog hosts in Winter 2022, but Laurie reports, “It turned out to be too stressful for our cats.” Laurie had already been volunteering then as a dog walker at the Animal Humane Society (AHS), and a fellow volunteer, Mike McLaughlin, who walked both there and at Can Do Canines recommended our organization to her. “He had nothing but good things to say about his role at Can Do …
volunteer
We’re Excited to Share Our New TV Commercial
Just when some companies were preparing to air their multi-million-dollar advertisements during the Super Bowl, we were producing a professional TV commercial of our own (though not for the Super Bowl)! During the Fetching Ball program, we previewed the 30-second spot. Check it out here.
Eau Claire Volunteer Hosts 100th Dog
Erin with Yoko, Rummi, and Tanner. (Photo courtesy of WQOW) Erin Whitfield, along with her husband and teenage child, just welcomed her 100th assistance dog in training into her home. Erin has been voluntarily raising and training Can Do Canines assistance dogs since her first one entered their home on January 17, 2018. Their 100th dog, Rummi, a yellow Lab mix, happens to be staying with them during her six-year anniversary of volunteering with the organization. Also currently staying with the Whitfields are two other Can Do Canines in training: Yoko and Tanner, both black Labs. Over the course of …
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 …
Volunteer Advisory Committee Provides Valuable Input
In recent months, our Puppy Program has adopted new terminology for the volunteer positions to simplify language and distinguish our vocabulary from that of rescue organizations (for example, “host” versus “foster”). The program has also formed groups called Puppy Packs and has plans to host a conference for Puppy Program volunteers in the coming months. The impetus behind these changes is largely due to the Puppy Program Volunteer Advisory Committee, launched in January 2022. The dedicated crew, which currently consists of Katie Cormier, Andrea Weinreb, and Mike Zeckmeister, is tasked to improve volunteer engagement and enhance communications by providing opinions, …
Volunteer Marilyn Lingard Finds Joy in the Many Ways to be Involved
The saying “Time flies when you’re having fun,” aptly describes Can Do Canines Volunteer Marilyn Lingard’s 10-year experience with us. In 2013, she attended a presentation at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. There, a speaker shared some research about dogs and referenced some work in Washington, D.C. she was doing with service dogs. Her curiosity piqued, Marilyn researched similar organizations in the Twin Cities and stumbled upon Can Do Canines. Since then, she has helped at nearly every type of event we offer, hosted dogs of various ages and for varying amounts of time in her home, made phone calls to …
Puppy Program Volunteer Opportunities
Our Puppy Program is looking for volunteers to help with our more specialized foster opportunities. Whelping Homes: Volunteers in this role take a pregnant female dog into their home and, along with our Breeding Coordinator, help the dog give birth. They lovingly care for Mom and puppies for up to six weeks. This includes charting their growth, making sure they are developing appropriately, doing environmental enrichment exercises, socialization, and lots and lots of clean up! This role requires the volunteer to give 24/7 care to the mom and their puppies. Medical Recovery & Evaluation Homes: These volunteers are available on …
Tribute to Martha Venema
It’s with great sadness that we recognize the passing of Volunteer Martha Venema. Martha began volunteering with Can Do Canines in August 2019 and fostered her first dog, Xullia, with us in October 2019. When asked in the application why she wanted to volunteer, Martha replied, “I love dogs. Currently we have been without a dog for 3 years. I miss having one. I’m interested in helping out through this program to volunteer my services and love of animals. It will be exciting to see how far the dog goes and to whom the dog will eventually be fitted with. …
Volunteer Highlight: Beth Carlson
Beth Carlson just about does it all. Whelping, great starting, long-term fostering, short-term fostering, events, open houses … the list goes on. Whenever Can Do Canines has a need, Beth is there to take care of it! If you came to our Fetching Ball Gala last weekend, you probably saw Beth and her husband, Greg, there with Walker and Whim, two 9-week-old Labs that Beth helped whelp herself. Beth shared that she has enjoyed whelping the most of all her roles, “The birthing process can be stressful and things can happen, but the pluses outweigh the minuses and it’s so …
PAW Program is the “Best Buy” in Town
“Let’s talk about what’s possible,” is the current slogan for Best Buy. So it was only fitting when Best Buy employee and long-time Can Do Canines volunteer Rebeca Sharpe approached us in Spring 2022 to talk about the possibility of a new program for fostering dogs. PAW Program participants work on loose-leash walking. Rebeca is a member of Best Buy’s disABILITIES Employee Resource Group, which was discussing having more assistance animals in training at their corporate headquarters in Richfield. She was already bringing Can Do Canine dog-in-training Waylon with her to work and recalls thinking, “What if we expand that …