Kiley’s MailboxKiley’s MailboxKiley’s MailboxKiley’s Mailbox
  • Apply for a Service Dog
    • Service Dog Eligibility and FAQ
  • Veteran Services
  • Donate to ICAN
    • Heart of the Mission
  • Volunteers
  • Events
  • Blogs & News
  • Our Team
Get Started
✕

Kiley’s Mailbox

by Bronwyn Shroyer, MSW, LCSW, LSSW

In the two years that Kiley has been with me at our school, I’ve seen the incredible bonds that she can form with our students. Not only does she bring smiles to their faces or provide some much-needed hugs, but she also helps them feel capable in their academic skills.

Reading to an animal can be less intimidating than reading to a fellow human, and the same goes for writing! We installed Kiley’s Mailbox at our school after seeing how much our students love to read with Kiley. Our logic was that if she brings out the love of reading, our students would love writing to her as well. And it works! Kiley averages about a thousand letters a year delivered to her mailbox by students who ask her all sorts of questions:

“What are your favorite foods?”

“Do you have a favorite color?”
“What did you do over the weekend?”

With the questions come comments from students that prove Kiley’s importance as a staff member in our building:

“I love having you in our school!”

“You are my best friend.”

“I’m so glad you are here!”

Some letters ask for help. Others tell Kiley about things that are going on in a student’s life. Teachers have made special letter writing paper for kids to use in their classrooms.

I’ll highlight one letter from a student in its entirety:

“Thank you for working at our school! Please stay! Because you make me feel comfortable at school. Being comfortable helps me work better.”

Kiley answers every single student who writes to her–she’s a very smart dog. She wants the kids to know that their words matter and deserve a response. She has her own stationery and her signature has a tiny paw print for the dot in the “i” in her name. Kids love getting letters back–especially if the letter is also an invitation to lunch with Kiley and me.

Kiley brings joy to our building and our students each and every day. ICAN’s mission is far-reaching. Not only do people with disabilities get much-needed assistance from service dogs, but children in schools are getting social, emotional, and academic support from facility dogs like Kiley. If I were to put a letter in Kiley’s mailbox today, I know what I’d tell her. “Thanks for being the best partner in the world. Having you come to work with me has been the best choice I’ve ever made as a school social worker. You make a difference every day.” She’d retrieve it from her mailbox, close the lid, look at me for a treat, and I’d give her one. A treat is such a small thing to ask for from a dog who makes the world a better place.

Bronwyn & Kiley

ICAN advocates for independence and opportunity by facilitating partnerships between people and dogs to unleash possibility.

Our accredited service dog training and Indiana placement program provides safety, friendship, and independence for children, veterans, and adults with disabilities and veterans with service-related trauma specific to PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma.

We are in the process of updating our website. If you need immediate assistance or additional information, please contact us.

ICAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; donations are tax-deductible. Please consult your accountant or financial advisor to determine how tax laws affect you.

View Financials

2022 Impact Report

Inclusivity Statement

ICAN believes in unleashing possibility.

  • We work to provide equal access to opportunities and resources for the people we serve.
  • We are committed to the core value of empathy and strive to create an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.
  • We believe each individual has the right to work and volunteer in a professional atmosphere that promotes equitable treatment, that celebrates differences.
  • We commit to being aware of, and sensitive to, other’s feeling, thoughts and experiences; and treat people with dignity.

 

ICAN further encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. It is the policy of ICAN to promptly and thoroughly investigate such reports. ICAN prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment or who participates in an investigation of such reports.

Visit Us

5100 Charles Court, Suite 100
Zionsville, IN 46077


(317) 250-6450


Hours of Operation

Monday- Thursday
9am - 5pm
All other times by appointment.


Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, contact:
Samantha Thompson
ICAN Communications Manager
sam@icandog.org
317-385-9636

Follow Us

© ICAN. All rights reserved | Revision 2023-05-30
Get Started