From left: U of M sophomores Cassidy Jasper, Eliza Theis, Kenwyn Shriner, and Greta Henry with Crush, an 11-month-old Labrador retriever. This year, they helped train and socialize Crush and another future service dog for Can Do Canines through a pilot program, FETCH (Fostering Education and Training Canines in Housing). The dogs live with the students at Bailey Hall on the St. Paul campus. “It’s kind of a life-changer—what we’ve learned about the different types of work these dogs do. We’ve had dogs as pets, but it’s a different relationship. When he’s here, he’s our pet. We have that bond. …
In the News
Sun ThisWeek | Assistance Dog Keeps Woman Upright
John Gessner – June 8, 2017 – (Sun ThisWeek) – Burnsville resident, new partner graduate from training. Now on her second assistance dog, Kimberly Hodges still marvels at what the highly trained animals can do. “It is so fascinating to watch these guys work,” the 67-year-old Burnsville resident said. “They’re just amazing. They can do everything but cook dinner and put the dishes away.” Hodges, who has multiple sclerosis, uses her dog to steady her gait and help her keep her balance when she walks. The dog opens and closes Hodges’ cupboards and refrigerator, which have tug fixtures on them. …
La Crosse Tribune | Can Do Canines Pairs Puppies with Prisoners
Emily Pyrek – May 28, 2017 (La Crosse Tribune) – Twenty-five inmates sat rapt at the edge of their seats as 10 rambunctious puppies came bounding into the Jackson Correctional Institute visitors room. Faces breaking into grins, the men reached out to greet the plucky pups who would be both their pupils and pals for the next year. The canine/prisoner partnership, a first for the medium-security Jackson Correctional Institute, was arranged through Can Do Canines, a New Hope, Minn., based nonprofit that trains dogs of all breeds and sizes to help people with mobility challenges, hearing loss, diabetes, childhood autism …
Stillwater Gazette | Sit, Stay, Farewell
Jonathan Young – April 28, 2017 (Stillwater Gazette) – Sit, stay … farewell: After two years, dog nearly ready to be a service animal. Saying goodbye won’t be easy. It won’t be easy, but Bonnie Bakke knew this day would come when she agreed to raise Zoe, a yellow Lab/Golden Retriever cross. That was nearly two years ago. “I got her when she was eight weeks old, and her birthday is the 28th of April,” Bakke said. Zoe was raised to be an assistance dog through Can Do Canines, an organization that trains and provides dogs to people with disabilities. With …
La Crosse Tribune | Assistance Dogs Arrive at Jackson Correctional Institution
Can Do Canines, a non-profit organization that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities and provides them free of charge to those who need them, started its sixth prison training program at the Jackson Correctional Institution in Black River Falls. Ten puppies from the “P litter”, which means all of their names start with the letter P, arrived to an excited group of staff and inmates ready to meet their canine companions. Warden Lizzie Tegles said the whole institution has been dying of anticipation waiting for the dogs, who are all black Lab and Golden Retriever mixed, to arrive. “This …
ACCESS U | Bailey Hall’s Four-Pawed Residents
Can Do Canines worked with two journalism students from the Access U to feature the work of eight pre-vet students who participated in the FETCH Program at the University of Minnesota. The FETCH (Fostering Education and Training Canines in Housing) Program provides pre-vet students with the opportunity to assist with the training of a future assistance dog for 2-5 months. As part of the experience, students are responsible for the around-the-clock care of one assistance dog. Their primary responsibility is to help socialize the dog before they go on to their final stage of training. By Sally Samaha – May …
CCX Media | Can Do Canines
Ann Gallagher, the producer of Channel 12/CCX Media reached out to Can Do Canines to learn more about what we do and how we help people living with disabilities in our Minnesota community. Our Executive Director Alan Peters shares how Can Do Canines helps as well as what our current volunteer needs are. You’ll also see a few Puppy Program volunteers working and training with future assistance dogs! You can watch this wonderful news clip via CCX Media’s link here: https://ccxmedia.org/cities/can-do-canines/
WTIP North Shore Community Radio | All About Can Do Canines
Can Do Canines was invited to join host Dave Tersteeg on The Roadhouse radio program on Friday, April 7, 2017. Volunteer Coordinator, Laurie Carlson shared our mission as well as stories about our specially trained dogs and how they impact people in Minnesota. Listen to Laurie’s interview by visiting 90.7 fm WTIP North Shore Community Radio.
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Helping People During Seizures
Lisa Peterson wasn’t sure about getting a dog. “Yes, that’s his favorite thing to do,” Lisa said, as she threw a ball up for Morrie – her Can Do Canine assistance dog – to catch. Now, she proudly shows off pictures because she can’t imagine life without Morrie. “My kids basically lost their Mom for ten years and my husband lost his wife and best friend,” Lisa said. In 2006, Lisa suffered a traumatic brain injury. In an instant, her short-term memory was foggy, she had trouble speaking, and she couldn’t work. She also started having seizures, over 40 a …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Living with a New Purpose
Natalie Regenscheid is the happiest she’s ever been. She works for the state and is also a personal trainer. “With my disability, it’s easy to blend in and no one has to know and they leave me alone,” Regenscheid said. Natalie was born with a severe hearing loss. She wears aids and has learned to read lips, so for years, she just blended in. Until she got Nadia, a Hearing Assistance Dog from Can Do Canines. Then, she started to hear it – the questions. “Well, you hear me just fine, you don’t need a dog. I said – well, …