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
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, …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | A Mother’s Thank You
MINNEAPOLIS – Tom Sandness can go to work, and his mom, Mary, can rest easy. “I’ve been meaning to write to you about my son, Tom Sandness,” Mary reads. For Mary, it’s easier this way. Easier to write down her feelings, expressing just how scared she was every single day. “We held on to Tom during his many, many seizures. We rode in the ambulance with him, we sat by his bed in hospitals.” Tom was in the hospital because his blood sugar would drop so low, so fast. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was seven, …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Staying Mobile
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nothing slows Chad Wilson down. “You know playing sports is definitely an important part of my life,” says Wilson. Chad plays wheelchair soccer on the weekends despite being born with a progressive muscle disease that would stop many in their tracks. It makes playing soccer, or even getting there, much more difficult. “For instance, it’s pretty difficult for me to bend down and pull things up, like if I drop them” Chad explains. There is also the possibility of falling, but if it does happen Chad knows Porter — his Can Do Canine assistance dog — …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Matching Dogs and People
NEW HOPE, Minn. – “It’s an art to match an assistance dog to the right person.” In this week’s feature, Cory chats with Client Services Coordinator, Leslie Flowers. Leslie talks about her personal connection with Can Do Canines through her son Chandler as well as how clients are matched with their future assistance dogs. Watch Cory’s video here.
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Puppies Grow, Train
NEW HOPE, Minn. — “It’s like they’re coming to college and they’re going to find themselves here.” That’s how Shenna Lemche, program trainer at Can Do Canines, describes the training process for her non-profit’s assistance dogs. Although these special dogs are always learning, they usually arrive for this type of training when they are 15-months to 2 years old, and subsequently learn specific skills and discover what type of assistance dog they’ll be. Cory Hepola traveled to Can Do Canines to see these awesome dogs in action. Watch Cory’s video here.
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Shelter Dogs Find Purpose
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Seeing those faces — those trusting, longing faces — can be life changing. “Well, it started with the very first dog we adopted. Lucky was homeless. She was three hours away from being put to sleep,” Alan Peters, executive director of Can Do Canines said. That was over 25 years ago. Al adopted Lucky and she became an ambassador for Can Do Canines. Lucky had this spark, and that’s what they’re looking for in a potential assistance dog. Laura Waudby, Program Trainer at Can Do Canines, is one who searches the shelters, …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Raising Puppies for a Purpose
NEW HOPE, Minn. – “Believe it or not, this is the hardest thing to teach.” “The leash?” “Yeah, so that they don’t pull.” Dee Hollerud continues teaching, while she guides a puppy along slowly with his leash. “It’s pretty much like raising a toddler. It really is. They have their toys out all over the place, they want to learn new things,” Hollerud said. “And, so if we’re playing the game of ‘Nudge’… yes! Then, she’s eventually going to translate that to ‘nudge’ the button.” Dee is a puppy raiser for Can Do Canines. Over the years, she’s taken 7 …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Puppies in Prison
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn, – A well-trained service dog has to be adaptable, ready for anything the world throws at them. New Hope-based Can Do Canines knows that, and the training their dogs receive takes them to some unusual places. One of them is Stanley Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. That’s right, puppies go to prison, where they are trained by specially selected inmates. “How to teach behaviors. They’re learning what to do with frustration. They’re learning basic dog care and grooming, and nutritional information,” said Nancy Weitgenant, a puppy program coordinator for Can Do Canines. While going behind …
Cory Hepola with Kare 11 | Protecting the Puppies
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. —Most everyone loves puppies, but having a living room full of them can be a challenge. “Oh, it’s a lot of work,” said Kolleen Herr, a volunteer with Can Do Canines. Kolleen’s living room is filled with the joyful sounds and smells of five puppies, only they don’t belong to her. “I am a whelping home for Can Do Canines. And, what we do is – the mom comes to our house one to two weeks prior to delivery.” Kolleen actually helps with the birthing process, then over the next five weeks she introduces the puppies to …