Indiana Canine Assistant Network

I have had a wonderful experience as a volunteer with ICAN. Their mission is amazing and the staff is extremely supportive, too. As a bonus, I get to snuggle with puppies and fall in love with dogs who will one day change someone’s life. If you’re looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, I highly recommend ICAN.

Our family has volunteered with four service dog organizations, including ICAN, and ICAN has been as wonderful as the other organizations we have worked with: Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Dogs Inc. (formerly Southeast Guide Dogs), and Susquehanna Service Dogs, all highly reputable and effective service dog organizations . As ICAN volunteers, we have wonderful support from ICAN staff to help us serve well in our roles. ICAN has a variety of volunteer roles you can serve in to help get a puppy on its way to being paired with a partner to make amazing positive life changes. You can work directly with puppies from days old up to around two years old, or you can work in support roles and community engagement if being around the dogs is not for you, but you still want to help make a difference. ICAN provides the same level of wonderful support to their partners (people whom ICAN provides a service dog for) that they give their volunteers. If you are looking for a reputable organization to get a service dog from, or you are looking for a solid organization to volunteer with to make a lasting impact with soul-feeding work, I highly recommend ICAN and its welcoming and supportive community. ICAN’s dogs and the humans who are a part of the organization are just lovely.

I was blessed by a dear friend introducing me to ICAN two years ago and it has been a fabulous journey. From the life changing stories of the clients these beautiful dogs are placed with, to the incarcerated handlers' growth and the fulfillment we as volunteers all experience are just a few of the many benefits this fabulous organization offers. These dogs truly bring joy to everyone they encounter while their "tale" is being written. Being a furlough volunteer on the far east side of Indiana, I encourage everyone who has a true love for training dogs to become involved and spread this wonderful mission far and wide across our Hoosier state.

ICAN has changed the life of so many students at my school by providing me with a service dog. He brings so much light and joy. They continue to be supportive of him and I as we continue on our journey. Absolutely the best!

I can’t begin to express the satisfaction and pride I have felt while volunteering with ICAN as a furlough volunteer! The staff is helpful and extremely responsive and yes, the dogs are delightful. I have had the pleasure of spending time with three very different dogs, ranging from one who was barely more than a puppy to one who has graduated and been featured in an ICAN video. I have learned a lot about the value of positive rewards, encouraging confidence, and developing patience. As you might guess, a lot of the learning was for me in addition to the dogs! There are not too many organizations that have such devoted staff and can also boast a triple benefit - valuable training to selected prison inmates, helpful companions to various disabled or distressed individuals, and richly satisfying volunteer opportunities.