::::Clinical Education::::

Maya (January '06): A 1-year-old schipperke, was training to be a hearing dog, however she had a career re-assignment. Since being disqualified as a service dog, she is living happily in a family environment.

Ringo (October-December '03): A poodle-terrier mix that was picked up as a stray by the Pound. He is now a hearing dog with a woman living near Duluth. She is deeply in love with him and training went quickly as he is a very smart dog. He's doing a wonderful job and is so well behaved he travels frequently with her around the U.S.

Ivan (very short term foster in July '03): a smooth coated collie, donated by a breeder, is the first diabetic assistance dog Hearing and Service Dogs of MN has trained from start to finish. He is indispensible to a woman in St Louis Park. He can tell by smelling her breath if her blood sugar is too low and alerts her. Since he has come to live with her, her incidences of serious fluctuations have considerably decreased as Ivan helps her get her blood sugar under control more quickly.

Angel (Winter '03): A German Shepard, donated by a breeder, has been matched with a woman who has MS. She retrieves an "emergency phone" if her owner falls down and cannot get up. She will retrieve canes or almost any dropped object. Angel can open doors and drawers with her mouth or press the push-plates with her paws. Her new owner's balance and coordination is profoundly affected by MS. Angel helps by offering her body as a brace to prevent unsteadiness and falls. "Angel is perfect in public," raves her new owner. "I've met more people than ever and she has really helped my mobility!"

Riley (November-December '02): A Wheaton Terrier who was surrendered at the Humane Society. As sweet as could be...however, he was disqualified from the program because he was too sensitive to his surroundings. He is now a pet dog and lives happily with a relative of a Northwestern alumni.

Sammy (September-October '02): A Norwegian Buhund donated by a breeder, Sammy, was disqualified as a hearing dog because he had an orthopedic problem with his knees. He now lives on a farm in Wisconsin and is deliriously happy as he herds the cows.

Mocha (August-September '02): Mocha was picked up as a stray by the Pound. Mocha was placed as a hearing dog. She now assists "Rocky" as he is hard of hearing.