INDIANAPOLIS — That special someone in your life will be howling with delight this Valentine’s Day when a cute and cuddly Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) service dog or puppy in training delivers them a Puppy Love Valentine.
ICAN is the only accredited service dog training program based in Indiana, where state prison inmates train service dogs to meet the specific needs of their recipients. Clients with an array of physical or emotional disabilities — from autistic children to diabetics to military veterans living with post-traumatic stress syndrome — can receive an ICAN service dog to assist them and enhance their daily life.
For the ninth straight year through Puppy Love Valentines, ICAN is offering the opportunity for one of its dogs or puppies in training (chaperoned by a human volunteer) to deliver a box full of special gifts to someone’s place of work in the Indianapolis or Bloomington area. Deliveries will take place during normal business hours on Thursday, Feb. 13 and Friday, Feb. 14. For more information and to order a delivery, visit icandog.org. The deadline for ordering is Friday, Feb. 7 at midnight.
The gift box and delivery is $55 and includes a variety of tasty Valentine’s goodies such as gourmet chocolates, candy and cookies, ICAN greeting cards featuring puppies in training, an 8-by-8-inch dog art canvas individually created by an artistic ICAN pup and much more. Best of all, it includes the chance for the recipient to love and nuzzle with the dog or puppy making the delivery.
New this year is the option to add a heart-shaped Valentines cake from Taylor’s Bakery to the gift box for an additional $20. Canine lovers may also order a Doggy Valentine bag with special gifts and treats for their four-legged friends, at $20.
Proceeds from Puppy Love Valentines benefit ICAN to help offset the cost of the two-year training program for each dog. In addition to inspiring dramatic, positive life changes for the recipients of ICAN service dogs, the program allows inmate handlers and trainers to develop important job skills and confidence that can be put to use upon their release from the prison system.
Deliveries are limited to within a 25-mile radius of Monument Circle in Indianapolis or in Bloomington through the ICAN at Indiana University students. Deliveries may only be made to businesses, schools, hospitals, care facilities, retirement facilities or churches. No deliveries to residences are permitted. Deliveries will be made within a four-hour time slot designated when the order is submitted.
Any items available for delivery may also be ordered for pickup at one of three area locations (ICAN headquarters in Speedway, Salesforce Tower in downtown Indianapolis and DK Pierce in Zionsville). Prices for pickup orders are $40 for the Puppy Love gift box, $20 for the heart-shaped cake and $20 for the doggie Valentine gift bag. Pickup orders may also be placed at icandog.org.
To learn more about Indiana Canine Assistant Network, visit icandog.org or follow us on Twitter (@ICANdogs) or Facebook (icandog).