Can Do Canines | Video

Kristin Clouston | 9/13/2012

We`ve all heard the saying that a dog is man`s best friend, and while in many cases this is true, there are some that change lives. Seeing eye dogs have been around for a long time, but these days dogs can help people with hearing and mobility issues, diabetes, seizures and autism.

Ken Stenzel say he`d never planned on getting a dog, until he met Calvin.

"We met in the office where they used to be at and it was just an instant attraction."

That was four years ago. Now the pair goes everywhere together and Stenzel says it changed his social life.

"There was an instance before I got Calvin where I had a woman pull her kids away from me in a store. `Don`t go near that guy, he`s in a wheelchair, something`s wrong with him,` And now all the kids want to come up and see Calvin and they want to pet him."

Stenzel has MS and says before Calvin came along he was spending $3,000 a month on meds. Now he only has to spend about $18 every three months because Calvin has reduced his physical and mental stress levels.

"Calvin`s really handy so I don`t have to bend over and that stresses me, fatigue, brings on the fatigue, he can open the fridge, get me a can of pop."

Sherry White is working to bring Can Do Canines into our area. She spent the past couple years training the puppies at the Minnesota State Penitentiary.

"It changed my entire life. I was kind of an outlaw and I`d given up and that`s how you end up in prison, but this puppy program changed everything for me and I realized I have something to give back and that I could maybe be even before it`s all over. So that`s what I want to do and I want to be involved the rest of my life."

She says the program and the dogs are blessing.

"If you couldn`t go outside for five years and all of a sudden a dog came into your life and allowed you to do that. You`d understand what a big gift it is."

It costs about $35,000 to train each dog but the owners get them for free and Sherry says she hopes people who need them will apply.

Dvorak Motors is helping support the cause and will donate $25 from every car sold through Monday. They`re holding a special sale up at Gateway Mall.

For more information on the program, visit can-do-canines.org.

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