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 …
Dog Training
Volunteer Spotlight: Betsy Peregoy and Janice Hunton
“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, …
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: Catherine Bjerkebek
If you’ve ever been to the Fetching Ball Gala then you know it’s quite the event. From the silent auction to the games, from the program to the food, it is clear that there are a lot of balls in the air. And one of the very important people keeping everything in rotation is Catherine Bjerkebek. “I first heard about Can Do Canines from a friend who lived in New Hope,” Catherine says, “Her mother had raised and loved several Golden Retrievers, and when her husband passed away, she was feeling very lonely. My friend thought that it might be …
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 …
Tips from our Trainers, Keeping Your Dog Safe this Holiday Season.
Holiday and Winter Safety Tips We all want what’s best for our dogs this time of year. The weather and family gatherings can prove to be a challenge. We’ve asked our experts, what steps we can all take to keep our furry friends comfortable and safe. Here are a few tips from our training department. Venturing outdoors… General rule of thumb: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. Dogs can get frostbite too. Please keep them indoors during inclement weather conditions. Keep walks short, but try to provide them more frequently so they still get proper …
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 …
Truly Amazing
In 2016 when he was 10 years old, Nicholas was matched with Autism Assist Dog Truly. His family wanted a dog that would help Nicholas from wandering, ease his anxiety, and comfort him at night. Truly has been … truly amazing. Recently, Nicholas asked his mom, Paula, “When can I go to Can Do Canines and tell them how much I love Truly and how much she helps me?” “Being a mom of a child with autism and a pediatrician, this is huge,” explains Paula. “People with autism have a hard time expressing feelings, verbalizing feelings, and a tremendously hard …