Hope Unleashed: Jeff’s Story of Transformation
Jeff, during his time at CIF, working alongside a service dog in training.
When Jeffrey Tatlock walked out of prison in April 2024, he carried more than just his belongings. He carried redemption, transformation, and hope.
For 16 of the past 18 years, Jeff was incarcerated.
“Knowing that you chose a path in life that made your kids grow up without their father, your parents go without their son, and your brother without his brother puts you in a very dark place,” Jeff shared.
For Jeff, that reality reminds him of how far he has come and how much he owes to the program that transformed his life.
In 2019, Jeff was transferred to the Correctional Industrial Facility (CIF). There, he noticed other men walking around with dogs and soon learned about the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN).
“Before ICAN, I was a selfish individual with selfish motives. I honestly just wanted to have a dog in prison,” he admitted. “I had no idea how much bigger this program was than myself.”
Jeff at CIF with the “101 Dalmatians” litter during his incarceration.
During the five years he spent with ICAN, Jeff worked hard – not just to train service dogs, but to become a better person. He rose to the roles of lead trainer, clerk, and even veterinary technician.
In each of these capacities, he learned that he could earn the trust of others and that he was capable of change.
In 2024, Jeff was faced with a difficult choice. He was set to be released from prison, just in time for his daughter’s prom. But leaving meant he would miss CIF’s first ICAN graduation, where he would work directly with a client receiving the service dog he had trained.
Jeff made the selfless decision to delay his release. He explained, “I had to finish what I started. Handing over that leash was one of the most powerful and rewarding moments of my life.”
Jeff, participating in Spring 2024 Team Training at CIF, passing Nana’s leash to the client.
Three months later, Jeff finally went home. Since then, his life has been filled with blessings. In December 2024, he married his wife Rachel, and in August 2025, they welcomed their son Jaxxon.
He also recently stood before nearly 400 ICAN supporters as a featured speaker at the organization’s annual Wine & Wags fundraiser on September 11, 2025—ICAN’s largest event of the year. There, he shared his incredible story of transformation with an audience eager to learn more about the mission.
To ICAN’s supporters, Jeff offered a heartfelt message: “You are not just changing the lives of clients who receive these dogs. You are also changing the lives of people like me, who had no hope. I truly know what ‘Changing lives on both ends of the leash’ means. I’m living proof.”
Jeff with his wife and newborn son in summer 2025.
Jeff’s journey is a testament to the power of second chances, the healing bond between humans and animals, and the ripple effect of compassion.
From a prison cell to a stage filled with applause, Jeff didn’t just reclaim his life—he redefined it. His transformation reminds us that no one is beyond redemption, and that hope, once unleashed, can lead to extraordinary places.
For every leash handed over, a life is changed. And for Jeff, that change became a legacy.
To learn more about ICAN’s prison program, click here.