Can Do Canines’ Breeding Program is an essential part of our mission of providing life-changing assistance dogs to people with disabilities. Our dogs not only produce puppies that grow up to be superheroes for their clients but also are critical for how we are continually striving to improve the health and quality of our dogs, generation after generation. Breeder Hosts and Whelping Homes are a vital part of that success. Breeder Hosts care for our breeding females and males in the same way as puppies in training, with the addition of being available for veterinary and breeding appointments, as needed. …
volunteer
Volunteer Spotlight: Mike and Tracy Zeckmeister
Mike and Tracy first began volunteering with Can Do Canines three years ago after the local chapter of their previous assistance dog group, Leader Dogs for the Blind, disbanded. Wanting to continue their assistance dog work, they found Can Do Canines through an online search. Since that time, they’ve helped raise four assistance dogs and taken on several puppy-sitting opportunities. Regarding their volunteer experience, the couple says, “We are very committed to training service dogs to help other people. We take our responsibilities very seriously. We view the dog we currently have as our “best dog”; this helps us to …
Open House Being Held November 11
We will be hosting an open house on Thursday, November 11, from 6-8 p.m., at our campus. Potential clients, volunteers, or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability. Through a self-guided tour, attendees will be able to watch a trainer working with an assistance dog, talk with a Puppy Program volunteer, and meet graduate teams from each of the five types of areas Can Do Canines trains dogs: hearing, mobility, seizure, diabetes and childhood autism. We are especially excited …
Can You Give a Pup a Great Start?
As the daylight grows shorter, are you looking for a way to bring a little more light into your life? We have the solution… a Great Start puppy! Brighten your days with puppy cuddles, kisses, sploots and lots of LOVE! We are in need of several Great Start fosters starting in early and mid-October. The pups will be 10 weeks of age at these dates. The commitment is about 10 weeks, but if you are able to help out for even 3-5 weeks, we are able to accommodate that as well! If you would like to welcome a little bundle of …
Volunteer Spotlight: The Wahl Family
Tonya Wahl first heard about Can Do Canines at an informational session in Eau Claire in January of 2017, and by April of the same year, she and her family were picking up their first Great Start puppy, a Black Labrador named Quil. After Quil moved on to prison, the Wahls decided to take the plunge into whelping, and they whelped the amazing “A” litter in July 2017. This was followed by several Short-Term Fosters before they once again opened their home to Quil. Tonya said, “We were very excited to get our first Great Start pup as a Long-Term …
A Day in the Life of Yuki
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Can Do Canine in final training? Let’s take a look behind the kennel door and see what a day in the life of Yuki, a female Labrador Retreiver currently in the final stages of her training to become an assistance dog, is really like. Yuki wakes up bright and early each morning and devours her morning kibble. After breakfast, it’s out to the yard for some serious morning play time with her kennel mates while the kennel is given a deep clean. In the yard, an ever-changing rotation of toys …
Volunteer Spotlight: Rich Freyholtz
About three years ago, Rich retired from his job in IT and was looking for a useful way to spend some of his time. At the urging of a friend, he contacted Can Do Canines and signed up for an orientation. Now, he helps with dog transports, fostering and events of all kinds. Rich says, “I originally volunteered to do short-term foster work. I love dogs, and after my own pooch passed away a few years ago, I missed having a canine companion around. As a foster, I can have a great dog in the house for stretches at a …
Volunteer Spotlight: Natalie Ramirez
Welcome to some new members of the pack, Natalie Ramirez and her family! Read about how she came to be involved with Can Do Canines and how she dove right in as a new foster with Black Lab Ripple. “I first saw a dog in a cape at a local Target years ago and I was intrigued with service dogs. I learned more about what service dogs did and found Can Do Canines,” Natalie says. Natalie picked up her first foster, Ripple, on November 25. When asked what has surprised her the most, she responded, “The incredible amount of information …
A Look Back on 2020
This year has been anything but normal, but the Can Do Canines community has stepped up to keep our mission moving forward despite unprecedented challenges. As we near the end of the year, we wanted to give an update on the state of the program and our mission to place these special dogs with the people who need them, perhaps now more than ever. After a brief pause on operations following the initial shutdown in March, Can Do Canines was quickly declared an essential service and allowed to continue operations. Since then, we have continued to train, place and certify …
Volunteer Spotlight: Sophie Weigel
Sophie Weigel moved to Minnesota from Iowa five years ago, right after college. She says, “I wanted to get involved in the community somehow. I went online to VolunteerMatch and saw that Can Do Canines had an event coming up and went to the website to check it out. I was in love with the mission right away!” For five years, Sophie served on the planning committees for the Fetching Ball Gala and the Can Do Woofaroo. Throughout the year, she plans and carries out these very important fundraising events as part of a group of other dedicated event volunteers. …