Nora grew up in Southern Ohio. Her dad played semi-pro football, and she quickly became a fan of the game, going to Cincinnati Bengals games and college matchups. When she was 14, her family moved to Minnesota, but Nora struggled to embrace her new state’s pro team. Her perception of fan commitment, along with sitting inside the 70-degree Metrodome, didn’t work for her. “You’re not supposed to take your coat off when you go to a football game. That’s just backwards. We’re in Minnesota. So I really didn’t vibe with the whole Viking thing.” A few years later, she entered …
Multiple Sclerosis
Ivy Keeps the Can Do Canines Love Going for Beth
It wasn’t long after Can Do Canines moved into its current New Hope location in 2010 when Beth came knocking. Living nearby, she first became involved by volunteering. She and her four children helped out in a wide variety of ways and are even credited with coming up with the name of our e-newsletter, The Howler. Her relationship with our organization soon took on a different dynamic when she realized that the multiple sclerosis she had been diagnosed with a few years prior was becoming increasingly challenging. She describes her presenting symptom as fatigue, and neurologists assured her that her …
Integrating Breeze into his Life was a Breeze for Ridge
Ridge knows the drill. As a successor client, Ridge’s history with service dogs is extensive. Breeze is his third dog from Can Do Canines since becoming a client in 2006, and he trained a couple of dogs prior to that on his own. Despite having faced premature retirement with his 2019 Mobility and Hearing Assist Dog, Peggy, Ridge kept his heart open and ready to embrace a new partner. This summer, he was paired with Breeze, and says, “She is just perfect for me … She makes me be a better person.” Ridge has Multiple Sclerosis, hearing loss, and vision …
Katherine and Bing Cherish Their Shared Care
Katherine describes herself as having been a “very, very active person,” sometimes having biked 100 miles in a day. So learning in 2004 that she had multiple sclerosis (MS) was a blow. “It was a difficult diagnosis for me,” she recalls. Upon advice from the MS Society, Katherine applied with Can Do Canines in 2010 and was accepted as a client. She says, “I was just thrilled that they would consider me for a service dog.” That year, a black Lab named Summer became Katherine’s first Can Do Canine, and they had a wonderful 12-year partnership. After Summer passed away …
Energy Conservation is Priority for Amy and Skilled Home Companion Jackson
Amy has had multiple sclerosis since 2007, and in the past few years, her disability has become more progressive. “I get lightheaded sometimes when I bend to pick up things off the floor,” she explains. She also has difficult walking more than a few steps unassisted, and it’s not uncommon for her to fall or slip to the floor. “I did my best to keep my cell phone handy,” says Amy. While Amy was working with her occupational therapist in 2021, the therapist suggested that she consider an assistance dog. Amy remembers thinking, “I wonder what a dog could do …
Xander Gets Michael Up and Moving
The singer Gloria Estefan released a song in the late 80s that contained the lyrics, “Get on your feet. Stand up and take some action.” That’s exactly what Mobility Assist Dog Xander is helping his partner, Michael, to do. Michael, who has lesions on his spine and was diagnosed with recurring/relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2016, says of Xander, “He keeps me on my feet.” Prior to having Xander, Michael admits he spent a lot of time in his living room chair. “I couldn’t stand in place for very long,” says Michael. Xander has changed that. In only their initial days …
Remaining Open to Possibilities Allowed Steve to Add Quince to His Life
Shutting doors. That’s what Steve, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, says is one of the most difficult tasks for him to manage on his own, especially when he’s using his power chair. “That’s problematic,” he explains. “I go through, and then with the chair and the footrest, you gotta lean in and you start trying to shut the door, but you have to back up because otherwise it’s going to hit. So that was my biggest challenge as far as being truly limited.” Steve talks in the past tense about that challenge, because he now has Mobility …
One Look Says It All for Kim and Mobility Assist Dog Mazie
It’s right there in their eyes. When Kim and Mobility Assist Dog Mazie look at each other, their shared love is obvious to anyone. During one such moment, Kim quietly says, “She really likes me.” Mazie is not the only dog to have this feeling for Kim, though. Kim was first matched with Can Do Canine Tagg, a Labradoodle, in 2011. Tagg was a much-needed partner for Kim, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987, when she was in her late 20s. The disease causes her to fall frequently, and dropping items poses a challenge that can spiral. She …
Can Do Canines Recognizes Black History Month
Black History Month gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of African Americans in the history of the United States. In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to share the accomplishments of three Black people with similar disabilities for which Can Do Canines trains assistance dogs. These individuals made significant contributions to the African American community and made a lasting impact with their advocacy and education efforts for people with disabilities. Let’s meet a few of these remarkable people. Harriet Tubman is known as one of the greatest Black liberators of all time. After being struck …
Two Hard-working Ladies Find Their Perfect Match
Determination has driven Patty to stay productive and active, but health concerns started occurring that led to a life-changing medical discovery. At first Patty experienced numbness in her left hand. This eventually led to her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. She stayed ambulatory as long as possible until her condition affected her ability to walk. In her New Richmond, WI home, Patty often uses her walker, but on outings and at work, she uses her motorized scooter. In doing so, she struggles to get items beyond her reach and is in danger of falling if she leans too far. When Patty …