ICAN furlough volunteers attend Boot Camp, taught by ICAN's inmate handlers, during ICAN's team training.

What a year it has been for ICAN! We started off with Puppy Love Valentines in which nearly 500 Valentine's gift boxes were delivered throughout the city. At the same time we kicked off Puppy Love Year Round which has been growing strong!

 

In April, we had a special Dog Art Day at the two Pendleton correctional facilities where our dogs-in-training and their handlers did nearly 100 pieces of dog art. ICAN's Golf Outing in July was a big success and we were fortunate to have some cooler weather from previous years. We were also able to feature Alpine and Kash's beautiful litter of Golden Retrievers at the outing.

 

At June's graduation, we placed 13 dogs to some very happy clients! We also took part in the Celebrity Softball game at Victory Field, an event sponsored by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, in which a dozen of our dogs helped raise money for the Indiana Wish Fund.

In July, we had an awesome team of Boy Scouts from local Troop 133 put down grass seed for our dog run, empty one storage room, move supplies to a new one, and built shelving for our storage room.

 

It was a VERY busy month in August for two of our Golden Retrievers, Holly and Jamie. On August 11th, Holly gave birth to eleven beautiful Golden-Labrador puppies. Six days later, Jamie gave birth to eight more! Handsome yellow Labrador Forrest was the daddy of both litters and he is from the Paws with a Purpose program - another prison program - in Louisville, Kentucky.  In October, lots of great things took place. We had the opportunity to be involved in two Lilly Day of Service projects in which Lilly employee's helped socialize our six week old pups. Then, we had 17 puppies from all three litters spreading puppy love to more than 400 guests at our annual Wine & Wags fundraiser! It was a huge success as all 17 puppies received sponsors that evening, and we raised close to $125,000 in donations and pledges!

 

Also in October, another Dog Art Day was held at the Indiana Women's Prison in which staff members from the Tony Stewart Foundation (TSF) participated with our handlers. We were able to provide them dog art canvasses for their Foundation and ICAN. A very special naming ceremony was held in November in which Mayor Ballard named one of Jamie's pups, Renn, in memory of fallen Officer Perry Renn, who died in the line of duty. Renn will carry on the legacy of Officer Renn's love for animals and the contributions he made to the Indianapolis community. The year ended with a very special graduation in which ICAN placed six more dogs to some very special clients.

ICAN brings hope. Our dogs bring hope to inmate handlers in three Indiana correctional facilities; and through the training of these dogs, the handlers bring hope to children and adults living with a disability. It is our Goal to raise $25,000 before 2015! Your contribution, whatever amount, will help us reduce the wait list for our clients.

  

 

May the year 2015 be another great year of growth, generous support and placing more dogs with applicants in wait. The staff of ICAN and the ICAN Board of Directors wish you a very Happy Holiday and New Year! Thank you for supporting ICAN. We couldn't do it without you!

 

 

 

(left) Olivia and her new friend, Ally (Allegro), arrive at the Indiana Women's Prison for Team Training. (center) Mom and Dad hold on to Olivia as she walks for the first time without her walker with Ally. (right)Three weeks after graduation, Olivia and Ally take a short walk. 

 

 

 It was a proud moment at Graduation for ICAN Handler Deb, Olivia and Ally

   

(left) Holly nursing her eleven pups only a few hours old (right) ICAN Handler Leslie & Tuck doing dog art.  

 

 

ICAN' Volunteers Spreading Puppy Love at Wine & Wags