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SERVICE DOG CATEGORIES:

ICAN trains dogs in a variety of skills that assist children, adolescents, and adults who have physical and/or developmental disabilities. The majority of placements are with clients who live in Indiana. ICAN charges a $25 non-refundable application fee and a one-time fee of $950, then works with the client and dog team at no additional charge for the life of that partnership as new needs arise.

Please note that ICAN does NOT train:

hearing alert dogs

seizure alert/response dogs

dogs for people with psychiatric disorders

Applications are evaluated in the order in which they are received. Because we strive to make the best possible match between the service dog and the client, placement schedules will vary. Making smart and appropriate matches means we must evaluate and compare the structure, temperament, motivations and strengths of the dog with the lifestyle, personality, and assistance needs of the recipient. Thus, we may not always keep to strict first come-first serve policy. The average applicant waits between 18 and 24 months to be placed with a dog. Please remember this is an estimate and this time could be shorter or longer.

If you are considering applying for a service dog, please read through the different types of dogs that are available to determine what type of service dog best fits your needs.

• Assistance Dog:
These dogs perform helpful tasks for people who use wheelchairs or have mobility challenges. This type of dog has public access and is protected by the ADA. This type of placement requires that the person working the dog be able to manage the dog independently when out in public. Generally, individuals must be at least 16 years of age before they are mature enough to be able to handle a service dog alone when in public. The cost for an ICAN Assistance Dog is $950. Click here for funding resources.




• Facilitated Assistance Dog:
These dogs are provided to a team. The first team member is a child or adult who has a disability. The second team member is a non-disabled adult, usually a parent, spouse or significant other. This second individual facilitates the work of the dog with the first team member. In this type of placement, all members of the team must be present when working the dog in public. This type of dog has public access and is protected by the ADA as long as all members of the team are present. The cost for an ICAN Facilitated Assistance Dog is $950. Click here for funding resources.



• Skilled Companion:
These dogs provide help with tasks such as retrieving dropped items, balance support, etc. but this assistance can only be provided in places where pet dogs are permitted. Thus, the difference between this type of dog and an assistance dog is that this type of dog does NOT have public access and does not have legal protection as outlined by the ADA. For people who do not go out of their home much or have assistance from others when they do, this type of placement is an option as the wait period for this type of dog is typically not as long as the wait period for the other type of ICAN dogs. The cost for an ICAN Skilled Companion is $950. Click here for funding resources.



• Facility Dog:
These dogs work with professionals who incorporate the dog into the care of their clients, patients or students. These dogs are most frequently placed in hospitals (e.g., physical therapy departments) or schools with special needs students. These dogs do not have a protected legal right to public access as outlined by the ADA. These dogs may be permitted to enter facilities (e.g., schools, therapy units) but this is a negotiated agreement between the dog's facilitator and the administration of the facility where the facilitator is working with the dog. The cost for an ICAN Facility Dog is $950. Click here for funding resources.



• Release Dogs:
Not all dogs are suited for service dog work. When ICAN determines that a dog is not suited for service dog work, the dog enters the Release Dog Program. Some of the dogs in the Release Dog program are placed in other roles such as law enforcement, search and rescue or pet homes. Release dogs are not provided public access through the ADA. Release dogs are provided at a reduced cost depending on the amount of training they have received at the time of their release. Additionally, there is a separate application for a release dog. We often receive inquiries from people who are looking for a dog that can be partnered with an individual with special circumstances (e.g., chronically ill, a child with social-emotional difficulties, etc.). We consider this type of placement a therapeutic placement. We make every attempt to give priority to therapeutic placements when a release dog is available.

At this time ICAN does not provide hearing alert, seizure alert or seizure response dogs. Additionally, ICAN does not train dogs for people with psychiatric disorders.