An interview with Jeff Johnson from Can Do Canines on August 8, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Jeff Johnson has been the Executive Director of Can Do Canines since 2020. He is a former Hennepin County Commissioner and state representative and is an employment attorney formerly practicing at Cargill, Inc. and at law firms in Minneapolis and Chicago. He previously founded Midwest Employment Resources, a firm providing training and investigation services to employers, and NorthStar Neighbor, a non-profit organization matching volunteers with seniors and others in need of help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeff is the author of Boy Lessons: What I’ve Learned From my Sons and was a nationally recognized speaker on management and human resources topics prior to joining Can Do Canines.
Jeff graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Sondi, live in Plymouth with their sons Thor and Rolf, and their English bulldog Frosty.
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
My background is in law, government, and politics. I’m a lawyer and former member of the MN House of Representatives and Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. I joined Can Do Canines in 2020 as Executive Director which was a massive change for me after 30 years in law and politics.
Can you tell me more about Can Do Canines
Can Do Canines is 35 years old and we raise and train service (or assistance) dogs for people with five different types of disabilities: mobility, hearing, seizures, type 1 diabetes and childhood autism. People living with Parkinson’s are frequently clients of ours (under the mobility title). We estimate that it costs about $45K to train each of these dogs but we give them away free of charge. Since these terms are often misunderstood, I’ll add that there is a significant difference between a service dog and a therapy or emotional support dog. A service dog has a much higher standard of training and is recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act to have certain public access rights that therapy or support animals do not.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is to help people with disabilities be more independent and live with more peace of mind. Our dogs provide that for all our clients.
We use poodles, Golden Retrievers and Labradors. These dogs transform the lives of entire families, not just the person with Parkinson’s.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
Our dogs are trained to physically support clients who have balance issues, help them brace when walking/getting out of a chair/going up steps, pick up dropped items, retrieve items (including canes, walkers, or other assistance devices), get help in the case of a fall or other emergency.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Our dogs are trained for about 2 1/2 years before being placed with a client.
What effect can it have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
We hear from our clients that their new partner allows them to be alone for periods of time that was never possible before because family and friends know their dog will keep them safe and get help if something does happen.
What would you like to see as a future goal for Can Do Canines?
We want to grow to serve more people with disabilities.
What events do you participate in?
We hold several events here in MN.
How does Can Do Canines also assist the caregivers?
Caregivers do not always have to be present any longer.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
One of these amazing dogs can fundamentally change your life – we hear it every day from our clients. Please consider looking into whether it might be a fit for you.