By Brenda Erdahl
For Tara Wirtjes driving to the Dollar General from her Maple Lake twin home on a simple errand can be a daunting task. Since a spinal cord injury 30 years ago left her in a wheelchair with impairment in all four of her limbs, dropping something on the ground has become one of her biggest fears.
The thought of dropping her keys inside the car and being unable to open the door is enough to keep her home even though she’s a very independent woman and capable of driving.
Tara Wirtjes of Maple Lake owes her independence to her mobility assistance dog Yule. The two graduated from Can Do Canines out of New Hope in October and have become an unstoppable team.