Can Do Canines Trains Dogs That ‘Fundamentally Change Lives’
More than 61 million people in the United States are living with disabilities, but less than 1 percent of those people have a service dog.
The New Hope-based service dog training agency Can Do Canines is hoping to change that.
The nonprofit has been providing service dogs for people with disabilities since 1989.
“These dogs, we train them specifically for a client, as to what their particular needs are, and these dogs just fundamentally change their lives,” said Jeff Johnson, executive director. “We hear it every single day.”
In an effort to see some new faces, the organization is hosting an open house this Saturday, May 18, from noon to 2 p.m.
“We have clients here with their dogs to talk to people who might be interested in getting a dog, we have volunteers here who can talk with potential volunteers about what it’s like, we have demonstrations, actual dog demonstrations, so it’s a very casual way to come and learn about us,” Johnson said.
Savannah Hervig, a dog trainer at Can Do Canines, works with a black lab named Yoko. The organization will have trainers working with dogs during an open house this Saturday.
Need for Volunteers
The organization is also looking for new volunteers.
“Well our greatest need is volunteers, and it will always be volunteers,” Johnson said. “People who can come in and help us raise and train these wonderful dogs, whether it’s for a few days at a time or whether it’s for a year at a time or anything in between.”
But visitors won’t feel pressured to help out if they’re not interested.
“It’s not a high-pressure situation at all,” Johnson said. “Usually, when [people] come here and they get to meet some of our clients or they get to meet some of our volunteers, they often become engaged in the organization. Maybe in a very small way, maybe in a really big way. And that’s what our hope is, just come and learn about us.”
See also: Can Do Canines Celebrates National Puppy Day
