INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) is offering a unique spin on Valentine’s Day gift-giving. Have a smart and lovable ICAN service dog or puppy in training deliver a one-of-a-kind gift box loaded with special gifts that will light up the love of your life for Valentine’s Day.
Now in its eighth year, ICAN Puppy Love Valentines, presented by Curran Architecture, can be delivered to an individual at Indianapolis-area businesses, schools, hospitals and retirement centers on February 13 or 14. This year they have expand their deliveries to the Bloomington area. Bulk orders can also be made for multiple gift box deliveries to one location on February 12 and individual gift boxes are also available at two locations on February 13 & 14.
Proceeds from Puppy Love Valentines benefit ICAN, which provides inmates at three Indiana correctional institutions life-changing skills by having them train service dogs, who are then paired with individuals living with a disability. It costs $25,000 for one dog to complete the two-year training program, with ICAN relying solely on private donations, charitable foundations and fundraising efforts such as Puppy Love Valentines to cover the expenses. The project raises more than $40,000 each year.
Items contained in this year’s Puppy Love Valentines gift box include cookies and chocolates from local businesses, a package of seven ICAN greeting cards featuring their dogs in training, Three Dog Bakery biscuits, and a 4×6 photo of the dog delivering the gift box. Several items handcrafted by inmates at the correctional facilities where ICAN service dogs are trained include an 8 x 8 art canvas painted by an ICAN dog, a wooden dog that can be used as a holder for your iPad, iPhone or frame and a beaded bracelet. A Doggy Valentine can also be added to the order for $15 which includes a Puppy Playground day pass, Three Dog Bakery and Nestle biscuits, a nylabone or soft toy and a gift from Duds for Pups.
ICAN Puppy Love Valentines gift boxes may be ordered online (www.icandog.org) with three options:
• Delivery to an individual, for $55, by an ICAN service dog or puppy in training to a place of business, school, hospital or retirement community on February 13 or 14 (delivery must be within a 25-mile radius of Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis or in Bloomington.
• Bulk orders – with a minimum of 20 gift boxes ordered at $35 per box – to be delivered by an ICAN service dog or puppy in training to a single location on February 12 (delivery must be within a 25-mile radius of Monument Circle);
• Gift boxes for pickup, at $35 each, at one of three area locations on February 13 or 14. Pickup sites are at Puppy Love Headquarters, ICAN’s Office Complex, 5610 Crawfordsville Rd., Bldg. 21, Indianapolis, or Salesforce Tower, 111 Monument Circle, Main Lobby, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Individual delivery orders are being accepted through February 8 at www.icandog.org. Bulk orders are accepted through February 4. Gift boxes also will be available for purchase at the two pickup locations on February 13 and 14. For additional details, visit www.icandog.org.