September 7, 2023

Healing paws

Kathy Ozolins is an occupational therapist at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana who works with patients with vision trouble due to stroke, brain injury, or other […]
July 31, 2023

From tiny paws to big hearts

When Linda Shepard discovered the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) in 2017, she knew she had found what she was meant to do: be a litter […]
May 20, 2023

The gift of Clare

Since being paired with her client Kendall Spilker in 2014, ICAN Clare has spent every day unleashing his independence. And according to his mom, Renee, from […]
May 19, 2023

Unleashing potential

Special education teacher Kathryn Wood was first introduced to facility assistance dogs when her principal suggested the idea to her in 2018. After researching how a […]
April 25, 2023

Finding purpose

The Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN)—an emerging nonprofit of 12 dedicated employees founded in 2002— and is the only training program accredited by Assistance Dog International (ADI) […]
April 24, 2023

Swinging with the big dogs

When the first annual Dogs for Vets Golf Scramble in Columbia City debuted in 2021, the driving force behind the charitable event wasn’t even old enough […]
April 3, 2023

Small but mighty

When Army National Guard veteran Suzanne Smith feels overwhelmed in a crowded place, she looks down at her ICAN service-dog-in-training, a Yorkshire Terrier named Dobby, and […]
March 28, 2023

Paws-itive rehabilitation

While ICAN has more than 200 volunteers dedicated to serving our mission, only a few gift us their time and talent AND work full time alongside […]
December 1, 2022

Adventures in Puppy Sitting

ICAN service dogs spend approximately two years in training in order to provide independence and break barriers for children, adults, and veterans in Indiana. This training […]