Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
International Assistance Dog Week falls between August 7 and August 13 this year. Longtime followers will know that my family and I are huge supporters of Can Do Canines, our favorite local assistance dog organization.
As a volunteer and pervious board member, I have seen the incredible difference assistance dogs make in the lives of not only their human partner but also the lives of that person’s family and the community around them.
Every year about this time, I like to give them a shout out, not only to promote their cause, but also to make people aware of this wonderful resource right here in the Twin Cities. Maybe you or someone you know could benefit from a life changing relationship with a specially trained assistance dog.
Can Do Canines trains 5 types of service dogs: Mobility Assist, Autism Assist, Hearing Assist, Diabetes Assist and Seizure Assist dogs.
Two things set them apart from other assistance dog organizations. First, their dogs are sometimes customized to meet the specific needs of their human partner. For example, a deaf person with mobility issues might be paired with a dog that has been trained as both a hearing assist and mobility assist dog.
Second, their dogs are provided to their human partners free of charge. It costs about $25,000 to raise and train a service dog. 100% of the funds needed to do that come from private sources – individual donors and private foundations. They receive no government funding and the human partner never pays a fee to receive a dog.
How you can help. Earlier this year University of MN professor, architect, extreme cyclist and longtime Can Do Canine supporter, Peter Hilger embarked on a 5,700 mile transcontinental journey across Canada – by bike! His motivation, in part, is to raise funds for Can Do Canines. You can support his mission by clicking here. If you prefer to provide financial support to Can Do Canines directly, click here.
Of course, financial support is just one way to support assistance dog organizations like Can Do Canines. Volunteering is another. Can Do Canines offers short and long-term opportunities to care for their Commitments can be as short as puppy sitting for weekend or as long as 18 months in the case of puppy raisers. You can get more information on puppy raising here. And watch a video on Can Do Canines puppies here.
If puppy raising isn’t your bowl of kibble, consider serving as a volunteer for, or participating in, one of their events. Every year Can Do Canines hosts fundraising events like the Can Do Woofaroo, Tails of Independence and Fetching Ball Gala.
The Can Do Woofaroo, a 1-mile dog walk and all-around festive event held in New Hope on September 24th, is an especially fun and easy way to get involved. Simply sign up for the 1-mile walk, get a few friends or family members to sponsor you, leash up your well-behaved canine companion and go.
The fundraising requirements are minimal (if any). In fact, if you raise $25, they may even provide lunch. For more information and all the details, visit the Woofaroo website. Or watch this short video.
Graduation. One of the best ways to learn more about assistance dog organizations like Can Do Canines is to attend an Open House (the next one is August 4th 6-8:00 pm) or watch a graduation event.
Graduations are private events for the dog/human team and their families. Covid and other protocols may limit the number of people in attendance, but videos of each event are available that show how these specially trained animals make a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
To watch a video of the recent Summer 2022 Graduation click here.
Years ago, I met a woman who suffered from sudden and severe drops in her blood sugar due to Type 1 diabetes. She had recently been paired with a Can Do Canines diabetes assistance dog. She told me and a room full of people at Can Do Canines’ annual Tails of Independence event that “when you support Can Do Canines, either as a staff member, a volunteer or a financial supporter, you save lives”.
To learn more about how Can Do Canines has done this for her and over 800 others like her, watch the short video below. About 2 minutes and 50 seconds in you will learn how a diabetes assist dog alerts their human partner the difference these dogs can make in the lives of others.
I am not crying. You’re crying.
To discuss any of the topics in this blog or to learn more about how we can help you Cross The Bridge To A Confident Retirement, please contact me through my web site mikebranch.net, call me directly at 651-379-3935 or email me at mpbranch@focusfinancial.com.