Uniting Passion and Purpose
For the Stemme Family, volunteering with the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) is a shared family experience that furthers the impact they have. Whether it’s working with ICAN’s dogs in training or engaging in outreach activities, they do it together, motivated by their commitment to the mission.
Together, the Stemme Family has furloughed nearly 15 service dogs in training, raised three puppies, and dedicated their time to volunteering at outreach events, transporting dogs, and litter sitting.
Having a support system in each other is something that the entire family relies on. They are always Face Timing or texting in the family group chat with advice and updates on the dogs they are working with.
The whole family is involved in volunteering, but each member brings something special to ICAN’s team of volunteers.
Mom, Britt, is a teacher specializing in elementary reading intervention. By bringing the ICAN dogs in training into her classroom, she has witnessed firsthand the impact it has on student’s abilities to focus and learn.
Britt Stemme
Kathryn, the oldest daughter, is a physical therapist. Her background gives her a deeper understanding of the mobility challenges that an ICAN service dog can help mitigate.
Kathryn Stemme
While at Indiana University Bloomington (IU), Rachel, the middle daughter, helped expose ICAN’s service dogs in training to all the distractions a college campus offers. From settling in lectures to navigating large crowds of students, Rachel provided invaluable experiences to each dog she furloughed.
Rachel Stemme
Frances, the youngest daughter who is currently in college studying digital production, is involved with ICAN through ICAN at IU, a student-led organization at IU Bloomington that brings ICAN’s mission to southern Indiana and gives college students the opportunity to furlough. For the club, she manages its social media and contributes her time to spreading awareness of the mission.
Frances Stemme
Kathryn explains how the sisters all grew up riding horses together and so ICAN was an extension of this love for animals. “Instead of it being for prizes or competitions, volunteering for ICAN together is for the bigger purpose of helping someone else,” she said.
“The only word I can think of to encompass it all is magical,” said Britt.
You too can make a difference in the lives of Hoosiers by training a dog for someone in need. If you’d like to help unleash possibilities, contact ICAN Volunteer and Education Manager Julie Mathias at juliem@icandog.org.
