About Us
Can Do Canines is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or disabled by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs.
Incorporated in 1987, Hearing Dog Program of Minnesota initially provided services for deaf clients only. Our first three teams graduated in 1989. In 1995, we expanded our programs to serve people with physical disabilities and changed our name to Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota. In 2006, we increased our service area to include Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, and parts of Illinois.
Over recent years, we added new services to our work, providing assistance dogs to children with autism, people with diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness and, most recently, returning disabled veterans. Our old name has served us well since 1995, but it no longer reflects the organization we have become.
After a nine-month journey with the wonderful folks at Strategic Name Development, I am proud to announce that we have made a selection- Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota has become Can Do Canines! Same dedicated staff and volunteers, same forward-thinking mission, new name. Can Do Canines expresses the positive enthusiasm that we already feel for our mission. We hope you like the new name as much as we do.
Costs:
All assistance dogs are provided to the client at no charge
- $5,000 sponsors a Hearing Dog
- $10,000 sponsors a Service Dog
- The cost per graduated team is more than $28,000
Nearly 50 percent of our assistance dogs are obtained through local animal shelters.
Staff:
13 full time employees; 3 part time employees; 20 field trainers
Volunteers:
11 Board Members; 75 puppy raisers, 200+ total volunteers
More Information:
– Mission
– Director's Message
– Background
– Leadership
– Newsletters