ICAN|Summer Newsletter|2020
Happy Trails to ICAN!

ICAN is on the Move!

Greetings!

After spending 10 years in our current workspace, ICAN is moving its operations to Zionsville, Indiana later this year. The decision came after evaluating what space ICAN currently utilizes, and what space is needed for future programming.

“Our strategic plan helped us hone in on our needs today to sustain programming, as well as how much square footage was required for growth,” shares Jillian Ashton, President of ICAN. “We looked at several options over the past year and found one with flex space on the north side of Indianapolis, all the while staying within a realistic budget. We will have professional administrative offices, as well as a training center – so the best of both worlds!”

ICAN will occupy a main-floor suite in the Reindeer Logistics building located at 5100 Charles Court in Zionsville. The current ICAN office in Speedway closed July 1st. ICAN plans to occupy its new office mid to late September as some construction is required to make the new office functional for our mission. Until that time, ICAN staff members will continue to work remote/y as they have been doing since mid-March due to Covid-19. An open house will be planned for later this fall.

IN TODAY'S ISSUE: The Circle of Gratitude
We would like to share with you a follow-up story on Grace & Dezzie, graduates of December 2019. Dezzie is a successor dog that came into Grace's life four months after her Golden Retriever, Charlotte, passed away. During the December graduation, Sonya, who trained Dezzie, read a letter to Grace. It was a heartfelt message. Four months later, we were deeply touched when we received a letter from Grace's parents and an enclosed letter that Grace had given to them.

It is the many Grace & Dezzie stories that keep all of us - our staff, inmate handlers, volunteers, supporters - believing in the work we do each day to unleash abilities and change lives on both ends of the leash. We hope this story inspires you as much as it has for us because at ICAN, Hope is NOT cancelled. We continue to bring Hope and meet the needs of clients, and we are asking you to JOIN US in unleashing abilities!
Grace & Charlotte - 2011
In June 2011, Grace was nine years old when she received her first service dog, Charlotte, from ICAN. Charlotte passed away in July, 2019 of cancer.
L eft to Right: Handler Taila, Indiana Women's Prison; Parents Aimee & Jeff, Grace & Charlotte
Eight Years Later - Grace & Dezzie - 2019
My Dearest Grace
by Sonya, Handler, Indiana Women's Prison (Note: Four months after Charlotte passed away, ICAN was able to place her with Dezzie as a successor dog. During the graduation, the Passing of the Vest takes place where the handler officially hands the dog over to the client. The following letter was read by Dezzie's handler, Sonya.)
Good evening!
I had a long speech prepared for tonight but it got interrupted because I got an unexpected letter in the mail. The letter was addressed ‘’To Grace, From Charlotte - Ruff-Ruff!’’ So Grace, if you don’t mind, I would like to read to you tonight the letter that Charlotte, your past service dog wrote to you, okay?

My Dearest Grace,

Hi! it’s me Charlotte! Ruff-Ruff!

I wanted to write and tell you not to be sad about me being gone. I made sure to send you a special girl named Dezzie, who likes the whammies just like you! She will help you when you are sad. She will calm you when you are anxious, and she will even interrupt that cute little tippy-toe thing you like to do! Ruff!

Now I am aware that she is not as furry as me and you may have to use an extra blanket in the winter to keep warm because of it. But, she does walk really good and will keep you laughing with all that moaning and groaning she does when other people talk too much! Oh, and I do apologize for Dezzie’s loud grandpa snores, Grace, but she sure is cute isn’t she? What I am trying to say to you, Grace, is that I couldn’t leave you without knowing you would be well taken care of so I PAW picked the best service dog just for you, my human sister.

Love furrrrrever, your girl dog, Charlotte





Photos; Top to Bottom: Sonya reading the letter; Grace and her mother Aimee at the end of the stage waiting to receive Dezzie; Sonya asks Grace to come get her dog; Sonya, Grace, Aimee & Dezzie
''Failure isn't falling down. It's staying down. We teach the dogs 'down' but we also teach them to stand on their own feet too.'' ICAN Handler, Pendleton Correctional Facility
Dear ICAN
by Jeff & Aimee, proud parents of Grace & Dezzie
Words can not express the gratitude we feel for ICAN and all who make their program possible. Receiving our daughter’s first service dog, Charlotte, was life-changing for our entire family. Among many blessings, our nonverbal
daughter found her voice with the help of Charlotte. Fast forward some eight years and we lost her precious helper and friend unexpectedly to cancer. It rocked our world. We watched all of the miracles she brought with her fizzle out with her death. My once-thriving daughter “shut down” overnight. It was as if she was three years old all over again. This was a devastating blow. While my husband & I felt Grace would benefit from
a successor dog, this time was different. We chose to get a service dog for her when we were blessed with Charlotte, but now it would be up to Grace.

“Mom, will you and dad find me another dog? I’m so lonely without Charlotte.'' Grace and I both cried through that conversation. It was hard. It’s funny how you feel like you are betraying the one you lost when you can take the first step in moving forward in life. Despite the grief, we had the application to ICAN in the mail that week. And we have not looked back since! Grace immediately
perked up and snapped back to her old self. Her grades climbed and she began talking about things like checking out a job! There have been a few changes worthy of mention. First, Grace... (Click Here to Continue Reading).
Top Photo: Dezzie
Bottom Photo: Jeff (father) Grace, Aimee (Mother) Sonya (Handler) & Dezzie
An ICAN Dog-in-Training Spends 17,260 Hours with an ICAN Handler in Prison, and 5,840 of those Hours are in Training.

Dear Mom & Dad

by Grace
ICAN Spends $2,000 Year for each Dog-in-Training for Veterinary Care and Heart & Flea Preventative. A Monthly Pledge of $166 would Pay One Full Year for a Dog-in-Training. PLEASE JOIN US in The Heart of the Mission.
Top Photo: Parents Keli & Khasi had a beautiful litter born on April 30th. The litter was given the theme, The Blues Litter, named after famous blues artists:
Koko (Taylor)
Howlin (Wolf)
Bessie (Smith)
Muddy (Waters)
Leroy (as in Robert Leroy Johnson)
Buddy (Guy)
Minnie (as in Memphis Minnie)
B.B. (King)
Bottom Photo: Howlin (Wolf)
PUP-DATES: News from Breeding, Whelping & Puppy Raising
by Moe Kiley, Breeding & Puppy Development Coordinator
Our volunteers at ICAN have been busy whelping, pup sitting and pup raising!

During the months of January via June, ICAN acquired nine pups who are thriving with their puppy raisers. Two of them came to us from Assistant Dogs International (ADI) ABC Breeding consortium: Banzai (Female Black Lab) joined us from Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) in Canada and Waldo (Male Black Lab) joined us from Ears Eyes Nose & Paws (EENP) from North Carolina.

Seven pups joined us from other ADI programs directly. We received Sandy, Romeo, and Maggie from Paws with Purpose (Louisville) Circle Tail (Cincinnati) & Kasanacanines (Indianapolis); and Jancsi, Mooch, Deacon and Lucy came to us from Susquehanna Service Dogs in Pennsylvania.

ICAN Keli. who is part of the ABC Breeding Consortium, and Sire Khasi, from PADS in Canada, whelped eight beautiful Black Lab babies who will be going out to puppy raisers and other programs this week!

Last week, ICAN welcomed a queue pup from CanDo Canines in Kansas, a Male Black Lab, named Cookie Monster. And we are waiting to hear if ICAN Dinah and CanDo Charlie will be celebrating a birth in mid-August and if Ability Center Assistance Dogs (ACAD) Inca will be giving birth late August!

If you are interested in becoming a puppy raiser or a furlough volunteer with ICAN, please contact our Volunteer & Canine Coordinator, Julie Mathias at [email protected].

Volunteers are required to attend ICAN’s Foundation classes which begins on September 14 th and applications must be completed no later than August 10 th . For further info about volunteering for ICAN, please visit ICAN Volunteering.
 
In 2019, 31 ICAN Dogs-in-Training were sponsored by Corporations and Individuals. Interested in sponsoring an ICAN puppy? Visit What's in a Name?
An Update on ICAN's Training Program During Covid-19
by Sean Diamond, Director of Training
As society has had to adapt to these unpredictable times during the pandemic, ICAN has obviously had to do so ourselves. Rest assured we are conducting business such as training of dogs and volunteers, assessment of dogs, breeding, placing dogs, and interaction with the inmate handlers, the correctional facilities, and the public with the utmost care and caution.

The dogs have stayed inside the two male correctional facilities throughout and remained in the Indiana Women’s Prison until middle of May when we made the decision to pull them out and place them with volunteers. The set-up at the women’s prison is not as conducive to social distancing as the men’s facilities are, and thus, required more restrictive movement for the inmates in the facility and thus the dogs. Due to this, with the welfare of the dogs in mind, we had to make the decision to move the dogs out of the facility, for the time being.

I have continued to remain in contact with each facility and the handlers at all three facilities receive... (Click Here to Continue Reading)
The Male Handler Perspective
by Patrick, Correctional Industrial Facility

Working for ICAN has helped me in many ways other than just training dogs. I have developed a lot of patience and responsibility through this program. I have learned to never to give up, that small steps will get us to our goal.

These dogs are not just helping us inside these four walls, but they are going to someday help a child or an adult living with a disability outside these walls. I want to personally thank those who support ICAN, because you are truly making an impact in such a positive way in so many people lives.
The Female Handler Perspective
by Hannah, Indiana Women's Prison

I was incarcerated at a very young age, 17 years old, and I am now 32 with still many years left on my sentence. Being incarcerated so young left me very angry, scared, and feeling hopeless. It was difficult to find joy, meaning, and purpose in prison..until I joined ICAN. To be responsible for a creature beyond yourself, it has taught me to be selfless, to put my needs second, and to feel that nurturing and unconditional love that I am missing out on by not having the opportunity to ever have children.
I am only one teeny-tiny little piece of ICAN, but from the depths of my heart, I want to thank ICAN supporters for supporting this incredible program. Together, we ARE making a difference in the world
Chewy Affiliate Program

ICAN is a member of the Chewy Affiliate program. ICAN receives $15 commission for a new customer order. (Existing customers do not qualify for a commission). You will receive 30% off your first auto-ship order and 5-10% off every auto-ship order. To sign up for your first auto-ship, please use this link for your order for ICAN to be credited to receive the $15. The link is embedded with an ICAN tracker . https://prf.hn/l/6kg0ojz



Did you know that for every purchase you make at Kroger, ICAN can earn dollars through their Community Rewards Program? It's very simple to enroll! Visit ‘’Kroger Community Rewards’’ at www.kroger.com then select Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) as your nonprofit organization. From there all you need to do is shop and swipe your Kroger Plus Card!

You no longer need to log in separately to the Amazon Smile site to have your purchases credited to your charity! Upon logging into www.amazon.com . (NOTE: You will need to create an account if you do not have one.) SELECT INDIANA CANINE ASSISTANT INC. as your Charity under Amazon Smile. To learn more on how to set up Amazon Smile on your mobile, please visit Other Ways to Support ICAN .
''ICAN doesn't just produce well behaved dogs, but true life-partners.'' - Bob, ICAN Furlough Volunteer
We can all agree the past four months have been... shall we say... unusual. Our routines have changed, the way we connect has changed, and maybe even our mindset has changed. I guess this plays right in the hand of Heraclitus when he said the "only constant in life is change."

The other constant we have experienced is your connection, as a donor, to ICAN's mission. Because of your generosity of time, we continue to care for our puppies and dogs in training outside of the prison facilities, and because of your financial generosity we are able to propel the mission forward and maintain our current staff count. We continue to change lives on both ends of the leash - for the 80 people waiting for a service dog and for the 55 inmate handlers - and your efforts are ensuring our continued success!

While 2020 has started off in a unique way, we have amazing and exciting things to accomplish over the next nine months. Please join us in taking a moment to glance back at 2019 with ICAN's first ever I MPACT REPORT!
I CAN Staff - Back Row: Amanda Swearingden, Dino Sierp, Sean Diamond, Sandi Clark & Moe Kiley; Front Row: Brynne Johnson, Julie Mathias & Jillian Ashton
ICAN Dogs: Cocoa, Rocky & Thunder
PLEASE JOIN US in The Heart of the Mission. A Monthly Pledge of $25 for One Year will Cover the Cost of X-Rays for Joint Health of an ICAN Dog-in-Training.
To learn more, Contact Us .
Safety Tips for Dogs

Fleas, ticks, heat exhaustion and poisonous plants are critical things to be aware of to make sure your pet stays safe and healthy during the summer time.

To learn more, please visit our Resource Page on how you can make your furry friend's summer a safe one!
Mark Your Calendar!

ICAN'S ANNUAL WINE & WAGS Thursday, October 8th
The Biltwell Event Center

It's our largest fundraising event of the year. Due to COVID-19, ICAN is working closely with the staff at The Biltwell Event Center to make changes that will make your evening safe and provide social distancing.

The evening is inspirational with stories about ICAN dogs changing lives on both ends of the leash. Testimonials and videos are presented by ICAN clients, former inmate handlers and community members.

The after-work program includes complimentary light appetizers, wine, beer & non-alcoholic beverages. You will have the opportunity to mingle with our dogs, puppies, volunteers, clients and former handlers. If you are interested in participating as a sponsor for this special event, please Contact Us . To learn more about the program, visit 2020 Wine & Wags .
ICAN Academy Puppy Classes a Huge Success!
Our very first series on ''The ABC's of Puppy Raising'' got off to a great start on June 18th when the ICAN Academy offered puppy training classes by Zoom to the general public. We had 25 participants sign up for the class which covers everything from behavior issues, teaching cues, body language, puppy proofing, and more.

A HUGE thanks goes to two of our released ICAN handlers, Heather Lace & Jessica Inholt, for assisting Sean Diamond, Director of Training, in teaching the class.

We are thrilled to kick off this first ICAN Academy series and look forward to doing it again sometime this Fall. If you are interested in learning more, please contact ICAN Academy Classes.
NEW ADDRESS!

Indiana Canine Assistant Network
5100 Charles Court
Suite 100
Zionsville, Indiana 46077
317-250-6450
www.icandog.org