Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 39 minutes ago
April 1: Service Dogs from Can Do Canines Give People a New Leash on Life
--submitted by Sharyn Alden
Sheila Ross’s talk at Rotary on April 1st, was nothing less than inspirational.
Ross, the Development Director with Can Do Canines said most service dogs are trained by closely living with prison inmates in the Prison Puppy Program. They learn 55 different skills in nine different prisons.
Last year 253 inmates helped train their assigned dog over many months.
In an emotional video, Marc, a prison inmate who trained Liam, reads a letter to him on the day the dog graduated. On camera Marc read, “Dear Liam, the day we talked about is here. Thanks for enriching my life and giving me unconditional love and a reason to believe in myself.”
The Minnesota and Wisconsin-based program was established in 1989. They’ve trained 900 dogs and will be training their 1000th team in the near future.
“Most of our dogs are ‘purpose bred,’ said Ross. “They are trained to know what their person needs or if they are in trouble.”
It costs $45,000 to train each dog with no charge to the person who receives their assistant dog.
The dogs are trained for various work, but most aid people who have mobility issues. The dog is trained to do tasks like turn on lights and close doors. They have acute awareness of ‘their person’ and may sense when they should bring them their medical bag.
The program also trains Hearing Dogs that can avert danger and dogs in the Autism Assist. Seizure Assist and Diabetes Assist Dogs programs.
“It’s pretty miraculous what they can do,” said Ross.
At the end of the program, Ross said people often ask what they can do to expand awareness. “You can volunteer,” she said, “and share our stories.”
Guest speaker starts at 10:30 minutes.
April 1: Service Dogs from Can Do Canines Give People a New Leash on Life
--submitted by Sharyn Alden
Sheila Ross’s talk at Rotary on April 1st, was nothing less than inspirational.
Ross, the Development Director with Can Do Canines said most service dogs are trained by closely living with prison inmates in the Prison Puppy Program. They learn 55 different skills in nine different prisons.
Last year 253 inmates helped train their assigned dog over many months.
In an emotional video, Marc, a prison inmate who trained Liam, reads a letter to him on the day the dog graduated. On camera Marc read, “Dear Liam, the day we talked about is here. Thanks for enriching my life and giving me unconditional love and a reason to believe in myself.”
The Minnesota and Wisconsin-based program was established in 1989. They’ve trained 900 dogs and will be training their 1000th team in the near future.
“Most of our dogs are ‘purpose bred,’ said Ross. “They are trained to know what their person needs or if they are in trouble.”
It costs $45,000 to train each dog with no charge to the person who receives their assistant dog.
The dogs are trained for various work, but most aid people who have mobility issues. The dog is trained to do tasks like turn on lights and close doors. They have acute awareness of ‘their person’ and may sense when they should bring them their medical bag.
The program also trains Hearing Dogs that can avert danger and dogs in the Autism Assist. Seizure Assist and Diabetes Assist Dogs programs.
“It’s pretty miraculous what they can do,” said Ross.
At the end of the program, Ross said people often ask what they can do to expand awareness. “You can volunteer,” she said, “and share our stories.”
Guest speaker starts at 10:30 minutes.
