Rebekah, who was matched with Seizure Assist Dog Castle in late 2022, has a history with working dogs. She says, “I had a Golden Retriever growing up as a kid. He was a trained therapy dog.” Without knowing this history, Can Do Canines selected Castle for Rebekah, who also happens to be a Golden Retriever. Referring to this coincidence, Rebekah says, “Having Castle is almost like he’s living on through her.” Compared to her previous dog, Castle is trained to help Rebekah with new challenges in her life. When Rebekah applied to Can Do Canines, she had what she called …
Seizure Response Dog
Zeta Brings “Spark of Life” to Michelle
Michelle jokes that she collects “ologists”: neurologists, a cardiologist, a rheumatologist, etc. This type of collection is no laughing matter, though. Michelle was diagnosed with lupus nearly a decade ago. She explains, “The results of the lupus strain on my body brought about seizures, migraines, and a heart condition called Supraventricular tachycardia.” Experiencing seizures multiple times per week, Michelle couldn’t be left alone and says, “A typical day was kind of scary. It made me feel like I was trapped inside a body and trapped inside a house.” She adds, “My independence was being taken away from me, and I …
Liv’s Life Improves with “Clark Care”
Imagine not knowing if you would pass out each time you bend over. That’s Olivia’s reality. Born three months premature, which led to hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy, and diagnosed at age 8 with a unique form of epilepsy, Liv has had over 150 surgeries in her 26 years of life so far. Yet, it wasn’t until college that she realized how desperately she needed a dog as part of her care team. “When I was a freshman,” she recalls, “I was alone in my dorm room, studying for midterms, and I had a seizure.” Luckily, she was able to get …
“Grad Pack” Member Hoped for Lighting to Strike Twice
Not long after being certified as a team in 2010, Terri and Seizure Assist Dog Brody practically became local celebrities. Terri has a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS), similar to a pacemaker, implanted in her chest that Brody was trained to trigger by pressing a magnet on his collar to Terri’s chest when she’s lying on the ground. Doing so can stop the seizure. At the time, they were the first team known in the world to do this, earning them media attention. For Terri, who has regular seizures, due to being involved in an explosion while working as a police …
2017 Team Sticks to Goal of Advocating for Others
When Robyn graduated with Seizure Assist Dog Ziggy in 2017, she boldly proclaimed, ”We’re going to conquer the world.” Since then, the team has been making good on their promise. Despite a 2013 skiing accident that caused a traumatic brain injury and led to a seizure disorder and migraines, Robyn has been determined to help other “survivors and warriors” like herself. Right around the time she received Ziggy, she created a brain injury support group in Mankato, near her home of Good Thunder, Minnesota. It was the first known group of its kind there, and she has kept the monthly …
Dogs Are a Girl’s Best Friend
Katie is an active young lady who has been living with constant seizures for over nine years since she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Some of her seizures look like she’s in a brief trance, but others cause her to become immobilized other than involuntary muscle spasms. Katie has many tools that help her cope with seizures enough for her to live independently, but she still lives with the debilitating condition and has been seeking any sources of relief available. She has medications, personal connections and instructions with the local Emergency First Responders, as well as a special device. The device …
A Ray of Light and a New Life
When Your Life Suddenly Changes To have the life you know taken away in an instant is an unthinkable event. In 2009, it became Dawne’s reality. Dawne sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that resulted in a delayed grand-mal seizure. Months later she fell into a coma and developed further complications including seizures, episodes of a sudden chemical imbalance, migraines, overall mobility weakness, fatigue, and pain. Healing has been a long journey. She had to relearn how to talk, walk. Dawne tried everything she could to regain her independence but faced a debilitating disability. She felt like she lost who …
Review: 2017 Candid Canines Film Fest
Here’s the plain truth about dogs: they’re not always curled up quietly in bed or sitting patiently at your feet waiting for your next brilliant idea. Sometimes they’re trying to cram their 90-pound selves into a tiny pan of water or dropping tennis balls onto your head from the upstairs loft. Once in awhile, when dogs get kooky, their people grab a camera. And that’s how the 2017 Candid Canines Film Fest was born. This year, Can Do Canines hosted the Candid Canines Film Fest outside at Target Field Plaza on July 20 as part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Hundreds …
2017 Tails of Independence Luncheon—a “pawsome” success
You helped make our Tails of Independence Luncheon on May 2, 2017 a “pawsome” success! Nearly 300 generous people joined Can Do Canines at the Golden Valley Country Club and contributions and pledges totaled almost $150,000. That’s enough to train six new assistance dog teams! Thanks to all in attendance for their incredible support. We could not perform our life-changing work without you. To catch a glimpse of the event … Check out the incredible video featuring Lisa Peterson and her Seizure Assist Dog Morrie that was created, filmed, produced and edited by Mark Falstad and Carrie Maloney below Visit Flickr to see photos (courtesy …
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 …