Indiana Canine Assistant Network sells hundreds of boxes full of locally-made treats. Then, volunteers and service dogs in training deliver those boxes around town.
ZIONSVILLE, Indiana — Volunteers in central Indiana are spreading puppy love this Valentine’s Day, along with their four-legged friends.
Indiana Canine Assistant Network’s Puppy Love Valentines are back for another year.
ICAN sells hundreds of boxes full of locally-made treats. Then, ICAN volunteers and service dogs in training deliver those boxes around town.
“It is just so much fun to see the reaction on their faces when they get to see a dog, pet them, and also learn a little bit about our mission,” said Samantha Thompson, with ICAN.
While the special deliveries are a massive fundraiser for Indiana’s only accredited service dog organization, it’s also a chance for the service dogs in training to practice their cues and put their skills to the test.
“It’s great to practice just interacting with all different kinds of people,” ICAN training manager Hannah Sauce said.
Over the course of two days, nearly 20 ICAN service dogs in training and their volunteers will deliver more than 200 gift boxes. Thompson said 200 more boxes will be picked up or shipped around the country.
For ICAN, every valentine purchased supports the mission of placing service dogs with Indiana adults, children and veterans living with disabilities.
“It actually costs ICAN about $30,000 to train a single service dog, but for our clients, we only charge them about 10% of that cost to keep them accessible,” Thompson said. “For qualifying veterans, we actually allow them to have their dogs for free.”
Ellie Backer is a volunteer with ICAN. She said she looks forward to Puppy Love Valentines every year.
“Getting a special delivery is great, but when you add a dog to it, it makes it extra special,” Backer said.
ICAN service dogs undergo a rigorous two-year training program, according to its website. Much of the program is led by incarcerated individuals at three Indiana correctional facilities, “transforming lives on both ends of the leash.”
ICAN does offer a type of Puppy Love all year, according to Thompson. More information is available on ICAN’s website. Plus, ICAN expects the Valentine’s Day event to return again next year.
“This is an annual fundraiser, so we will be back again next Valentine’s Day,” Thompson said.
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