BY GABE LICHT Editor NEW HOPE, MN – Slightly more than two years after being born in Dana Kittok’s rural Maple Plain home, four Can Do Canines crossed the stage with their clients to graduate as service dogs Feb. 18. “To see ‘my’ babies on stage at graduation with their clients filled my heart with pride,” Kittok said. “To know they took their first breath in my hands over two years ago and see the greatness they do for their clients is remarkable.” Kittok finds satisfaction in whelping puppies for Can Do Canines. “Mother Theresa said, ‘The meaning of life …
Puppy Program
All Rise for Queen Phoenix
Bill Kostur and Mobility Assistance Dog Phoenix Author: Susan Byers According to Greek mythology, a phoenix rises. But William (Bill) Kostur, a 68-year-old retiree from St. Paul, Minnesota believes that his Mobility Assist Dog, Phoenix, actually descends – from royalty. “She’s a queen,” he says, describing the three-year-old white Standard Poodle that has changed his life for the better. “What I cherish most is how she helps me rise each day – from the bed or a chair, using a tug rope.” Bill has Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive neurological condition where dopamine – the neurotransmitter that connects brain and …
Bonding with Oakley
James Pick & Mobility Assistance Dog Oakley Brainerd, Minn. resident James Pick has a new roommate: Mobility Assist Dog Oakley. James is living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease which attacks the central nervous system. “Because of my MS I have problems with balance and I fatigue easily,” says James. Without family close by James and his loved ones were living with a lot of worries; with Oakley around James has an assistant to help him with tasks as well as providing greater peace of mind for both himself and his family. Mobility Assistance Dog Oakley is a gorgeous …
Candy Girl
Remington Christoph & Autism Assistance Dog Candy By: Patti Miller Chocolate is often associated with candy, right? Well in this case, Candy is a type of chocolate that isn’t edible. Candy is a lovable, outgoing, energetic two-year-old chocolate Labrador Retriever that has been paired with Remington (Remy) Christoph and his family from Victoria, Minn. Remy is a loveable, energetic seven-year-old who has autism. At an early age mom, dad and other family members noticed Remy’s language skills were not developing as well as they should have and his lack of eye contact was concerning. His diagnosis sent his mom searching …
Warner the Hero
Dennis Wold & Mobility Assistance Dog Warner “Recently I received a call and when I tried to answer the phone it tumbled underneath the table. Before having Warner it would have taken me 15 minutes to try to get the phone back, but with Warner here it took less than a minute; he retrieved the phone quickly and I didn’t miss the call,” says Dennis Wold of Cloquet, Minn. Dennis became a quadriplegic at the age of 21 due to a diving accident. Throughout his life Dennis has had pet dogs; but now seemed like the right time to try …
Stability with Tango
Lia (Rui Rui) Bleifuss & Mobility Assistance Dog Tango Lia Bleifuss, known to family and friends as Rui Rui, which is a term of endearment, is from Minneapolis, Minn. Rui Rui is a typical 13-year-old and she loves to read, hang out with friends, vacation with her mom Sherry, dad Ethan and sister Ava in the summer and she thoroughly enjoys swimming. In fact, Rui Rui competes on two swim teams. In the past three years, she’s competed at the National Junior Disability Championships with the Courage team in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Iowa. Rui Rui is a wonderful swimmer …
A Real Doll!
Brett Young & Diabetes Assistance Dog Barbie Author: Vera Mariner Barbie is loved and spoiled, and she deserves it. She provides a life-saving service to client Brett Young from Saint Cloud, Minn. as a Diabetes Assist Dog. Managing a chronic condition is not for the faint of heart and Brett has strategized a care team that has created a comfortable and safe existence. Barbie is captain of that team. Her ability to alert Brett if his blood sugar is low is lifesaving. Even though Brett’s Continuous Glucose Monitor* is a brilliant tool for him, he does not hear when the …
Bringing Awareness
Len Hovan & Diabetes Assistance Dog Rogue Len Hovan from Eagan, Minn. enjoys woodworking, restoring antiques and traveling. He lives with type 1 brittle diabetes which means he encounters frequent and extreme swings in his blood glucose levels. Len also experiences hypoglycemia unawareness, so he’s unable to feel the deep drops in his blood sugar levels. These can be incredibly dangerous and even life threatening. Rogue, a three-year-old black Standard Poodle was described by her Can Do Canines trainers and foster volunteers as snuggly, dainty, playful and always so happy. She was matched with Len as his Diabetes Assist Dog. …
Jack and Valor – Best Friends
Jackson Wallrath & Autism Assistance Dog Valor When Jackson (Jack) Wallrath was two years old he suddenly started reacting differently towards things that weren’t usually a big deal to him. His language development also plateaued. Shortly after that, Jack was diagnosed with autism. Luckily, Jack’s family lives just down the road from St. David’s Children’s Center in Minnetonka where he attended for over a year. While at the Children’s Center, Jack’s mother, Sarah, noticed that he wasn’t doing well with change or chaotic situations. He was also less verbal than his classmates, and had a hard time making friends in …
WQOW Eau Claire News | Service Dog Training Program Needs Volunteers to Raise Puppies as Future Assistance Dogs
Kaitlyn Riley, WQOW – December 23, 2016 Eau Claire (WQOW) – An organization that trains puppies to become service dogs for those in need is seeking volunteers in the Chippewa Valley. Can Do Canines is a program based out of Minnesota that raises future assistance dogs. It is fairly new to the area, and for the past year, prisoners in Stanley have been working as trainers. They will typically work with the dogs for a year and a half before the dogs are sent back to the Can Do Canines facility for even more training before picking their ‘careers’ as one of …