ICAN, or the Indiana Canine Assistance Network, trains dogs in many different skills that help assist children, adolescents, and adults who have physical or developmental conditions. Some of these conditions include autism, diabetes, or mobility-related disabilities. The assistance dogs serve clients within 250 miles of Indianapolis. Each dog is trained, and then matched specifically to people with particular needs.
It takes two years to train a service dog, and over $25,000 for each dog (kennel costs, food, vet bills….)! Many of the service dogs are trained at correctional facilities, which some of you may already know are actually jails. Don’t worry, though, the dogs are only trained by people who have been carefully screened and are safe to be around the dogs! They are called handlers. This helps the handlers take responsibility for training the dogs, and therefore are learning crucial skills for when they re-enter the work force and their communities. Some of the skills the handlers learn are responsibility, accountability, compassion, teamwork, pride, self-esteem, unconditional love, discipline, and the use of judgment over feelings to achieve their goals. This is a win-win situation for the dogs and the handlers! When the dogs are not with their handlers at the correctional facility, they are out in the community practicing for the environment that they will one day work.
ICAN is always accepting donations whether the donation is money, toys, or your volunteer time. If you or someone you know may be interested in donating to ICAN, click one of the links below!
It takes two years to train a service dog, and over $25,000 for each dog (kennel costs, food, vet bills….)! Many of the service dogs are trained at correctional facilities, which some of you may already know are actually jails. Don’t worry, though, the dogs are only trained by people who have been carefully screened and are safe to be around the dogs! They are called handlers. This helps the handlers take responsibility for training the dogs, and therefore are learning crucial skills for when they re-enter the work force and their communities. Some of the skills the handlers learn are responsibility, accountability, compassion, teamwork, pride, self-esteem, unconditional love, discipline, and the use of judgment over feelings to achieve their goals. This is a win-win situation for the dogs and the handlers! When the dogs are not with their handlers at the correctional facility, they are out in the community practicing for the environment that they will one day work.
ICAN is always accepting donations whether the donation is money, toys, or your volunteer time. If you or someone you know may be interested in donating to ICAN, click one of the links below!
A few ICAN puppies waiting to get a little older to start training!