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 rewarding. I just love it. It’s so much work and you are so tired, but seeing the process, coaching the mom along, and seeing how different the moms are, it’s just so amazing. I can’t explain how much it makes my heart swell as these babies go through the process."

Beth started her journey with Can Do Canines in 2019 after losing their beloved Lab. Beth and Greg needed some time to heal before adopting another dog. They saw our office building off 169 and decided to look us up. Beth remembers, "I didn't think I was qualified, but I filled out the form and signed up. The rest was history."

She shared fond memories of their first Can Do Canines dog: "I remember Xander, our very first Great Start, and thinking, I don’t think this dog is ever going to make it. And then he did! All the maturing they do is so surprising."

Another thing that surprised Beth was "how much effort and research goes into determining the path that these dogs take even before a dog is born up until a dog is assigned to a client. It’s amazing how they figure all of that out."

Beth also has happy memories of getting to see their first Long-Term Foster, Elvis, getting matched with his client and of the first litter they whelped growing and learning.

When asked what she's learned along the way that is important for other volunteers to know, Beth replied, "The most important thing to know is that you aren’t all on your own out there. I didn’t know how to train a dog when I started, but it takes a village, and you can always call or email somebody. Within a day or so, someone will get back to you and will walk with you along the way if you have any issues, problems, or questions."

Our Training Manager, Shenna Lemche, remembers meeting Beth in 2019, saying "We had a one-on-one training session together. She was raising a dog for the first time and worried about the same things we all do: 'breaking' the dog, what behaviors are okay or not, and doing everything right. I've loved seeing the concerns grow into confidence and am so proud and appreciative of the amazing work Beth is doing!"