“We discovered Can Do Canines by way of an internet search,” Betsy says. “After stumbling upon and watching the documentary film Pick of the Litter, we were inspired to find out about local organizations engaged in this important work. The time was right: our beloved 15-year-old pet Black Lab had passed a few months earlier, so we were keenly aware of the void felt in our household – now pet-less for the first time in 37 years! – and, we were newly retired from full-time work. The opportunity to volunteer with Can Do Canines Puppy Program offered us a focused purpose, …
Puppy Program
Raising A Future Assistance Dog During A Crisis
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to lay hold in Minnesota, we were forced to initiate major changes in our lives. In response to the shelter in place order, Can Do Canines closed our facility, canceled all upcoming events, and moved thirty kennel dogs and eighty prison dogs into private homes—bringing the total number of Can Do Canines in volunteers’ homes to 320. So what is it like to raise a future assistance dog during an unprecedented global health crisis? We asked a few of our Puppy Program volunteers to share their experience, and here is what they shared. At first, …
The Gift of a Great Start: The Cerar Family
Puppy Program volunteers are involved in every stage of a future assistance dog’s journey. When the puppies reach 10-weeks of age they take one of two paths through the remainder of the program—either Puppy Raised in prison or Puppy Raised in one of our volunteer’s homes. Before pups go into the Prison Program they get a jump start on the basics in a Great Start Home. From 10–20 weeks of age these pups will continue work on potty and crate training, and focus on basic obedience, house manners, and social exposure. We caught up with the Cerar Family as they …
Volunteer Spotlight: Jackie Culver
Wisconsin resident Jackie Culver has found that being a Prison Foster with Can Do Canines allows her to have dogs in her life while still allowing her to travel in her retirement. “I first heard about Can Do Canines from my daughter Jamie Mueller,” Jackie says. “She knew the only reason I didn’t have my own dog was because I’m gone often. She had seen an article on the back of their newspaper about Can Do Canines and went online to find out more. She and her husband got into volunteering with their first Great Start. My first pup was …
Volunteer Spotlight: Barb Verhage
Barb Verhage began volunteering for Can Do Canines in 2012 after entering retirement. Her first volunteer role was as a Puppy Socializer. She was tasked with engaging and socializing the puppies in the kennel. Quick to take on more responsibility, Barb then became an outing volunteer, a role she continues to do every Wednesday alongside Joanne Nichols and Lisa Hathy. This trio brings dogs in training into the community for extra socialization and to work on obedience skills in new environments. “It’s fun to go out with three dogs because people notice you more. You get a little more attention …
Volunteer Spotlight: Michelle Magdsick
Michelle Magdsick knows firsthand the positive impact dogs can make on people’s lives. As a former nurse anesthetist, Michelle witnessed the special kind of joy that comes over nursing home patients when a dog comes to visit and has seen the calming effect they bring to stressed-out staff. After hearing about Can Do Canines from two of her neighbors, she decided to apply to volunteer. “I was introduced to Can Do Canines by two of my neighbors, each at different times. One neighbor discovered my love of dogs while he was walking his dog and told me about the volunteer …
A Lot of Personality
Ridge and Peggy Those who come to Can Do Canines for an assistance dog have varied levels of experience with dogs. Some have never owned one. Others have owned many. But no one has trained four of their own assistance dogs—until Ridge. Since 1998, he’s trained four of his own assistance dogs. Ridge didn’t develop his disabilities until his late twenties when he contracted meningitis and encephalitis. “They gave me a 5 percent chance of living,” Ridge says. “I spent three months in the hospital where I was locked in and I couldn’t move, eat, or talk. All I could …
Getting and Giving
Beth and Diabetes Assist Dog Fiona By Bobb Elsenpeter For Beth, a Diabetes Assist Dog is essential. With the dangers posed by rapidly falling blood sugar, the more advanced notice she has, the better. Fiona was teamed with Beth after her first Diabetes Assist Dog, Faith, a 7-year-old Black Labrador Retriever suddenly passed away. And although the loss of one’s assistance dog is naturally difficult, Beth says that she went into the new partnership with the wisdom of important lessons under her belt. “I knew so much more so I could be a better leader for [Fiona] and not make …
A Nudge in the Right Direction
Greg and Hearing Assistance Dog Duke By Amy Verrando Greg was only in his 20s when he learned he had Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disease that causes progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, and, in some cases, vertigo. Over the years, Greg received two cochlear implants to help combat his hearing loss. Samantha, Greg’s daughter, lives with him part-time. Samantha worried about her father. “She was pretty nervous about me being alone at night, smoke alarms specifically,” Greg says. And he was afraid he would sleep through his alarm, and found himself unable to sleep soundly through the night. So when …
Volunteer Spotlight: Diana Adamson and Paul Oberhaus
If you attended the graduation ceremony last month, you would have seen graduate Greg Landeen and Mobility Assist Dog Nellie take center stage. And alongside them the volunteers who made Nellie possible: Puppy Raisers Diana Adamson and Paul Oberhaus. Vocalizing what a lot of us are thinking, graduate Greg says, “It’s amazing that people are doing this on a volunteer basis. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a dog that’s this awesome and then have to say goodbye to her. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Throughout their 17 years of service, Diana and Paul have given much …