The Service Dog Connection
The Service Dog Connection
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  • More
    • Home
    • Service Dogs
      • Our Service Dog Program
      • Current Dogs in Training
      • Placed Service Dogs
      • FAQ
    • Puppy Raisers
    • Therapy Dogs
    • Adoptable Dogs
    • Breeding Program
    • Pet Care & Training
    • Adding New Program Dogs
  • Home
  • Service Dogs
  • Puppy Raisers
  • Therapy Dogs
  • Adoptable Dogs
  • Breeding Program
  • Pet Care & Training
  • Adding New Program Dogs

Customized service dogs for the individualized need

Customized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized need

Nonprofit Located in Atascadero, CA

Customized service dogs for the individualized need

Customized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized needCustomized service dogs for the individualized need

Nonprofit Located in Atascadero, CA

NEW NAME. SAME AMAZING SERVICE DOGS

In January 2021 we made the switch to becoming a much more specialized service dog program, changed our name and in May, 2021 officially received 501(c)3 Nonprofit status!  All of these changes were made in order to provide more affordable quality service dogs to those who need them most all across the United States!  Central Coast Dog Services LLC is now The Service Dog Connection.  Our nonprofit status allows us to apply for grants and help clients have an easier time fundraising for their service dogs!  Our team is so excited for what this new change will bring.

OUR TEAM

Kelly Sosa

Founder, Trainer, Executive Director

Kelly is a positive reinforcement service dog trainer with 15 years of experience. She grew up in Portland, Oregon obsessed with animals from a very young age, and was especially drawn to dogs.   Kelly began raising and training service dogs for Autism Service Dogs of America in 2005 and then Healing Hounds Service Dogs in 2016.  


In 2015 she received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Southern Oregon University.  While living in Ashland for five years, Kelly worked closely with Jackson County Animal Services and their shelter dogs.  Her involvement with them included fostering and evaluating shelter dogs, and teaching classes for the shelter volunteers on positive reinforcement training and reducing dog reactivity to make dogs more adoptable.  She also spent four years working in mental health at a residential treatment facility for young adults, and managed a mental health crisis facility.


Kelly moved to San Luis Obispo, California and started Central Coast Dog Services in 2018, which later became The Service Dog Connection in 2021.  Today Kelly works to provide families with affordable service dogs and is constantly trying to brainstorm new ways to help clients become successful service dog teams.  

Dimi Hall

Service Dog Placement Trainer

Growing up on the Central Coast of California Dimi always found herself gravitating toward animals.  More specifically: dogs.  As a current psychology major, working for The Service Dog Connection is a perfect marriage of her two life interests.  Dimi started as a volunteer puppy raiser for a spunky Goldendoodle in February of 2020 and found herself wanting to learn as much as she could about training service dogs.  In July of 2020, Dimi officially joined our team!  Dimi says, "I have met so many wonderful canines and humans in the process and have loved every minute of it!"  We feel very lucky to have her as part of our program.


Dimi now does specialized task training and placements for many of our dogs.  She has an incredible gift of teaching others and has an amazing heart.

Natalie Craig

Service Dog Trainer

Natalie grew up in Southern California and has always had a passion for all sorts of animals. In high school, she volunteered for four years at the Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding which was her first experience merging her love for animals with assisting disabled individuals. Natalie graduated from Cal Poly SLO in June of 2021 with a degree in pre-vet animal science. During her time at Cal Poly, she worked at a dog daycare and boarding facility, volunteered for The Marine Mammal Center and the Central Coast Aquarium, and played horse polo!


Natalie started out as a volunteer with us and is the newest member of our team. She assists with training and daily activities at The Service Dog Connection. 

Tiffany Dawson

Service Dog Trainer & Evaluator

Tiffany spent several months as an intern and then paid trainer with us back in late 2019 and early 2020.  Since moving to San Antonio, Texas Tiffany is now running a Texas branch of The Service Dog Connection, finding service dog candidates, leading local puppy raiser meetings, training the dogs to pass the ADI Public Access Test.  From there, the dogs are sent to our California trainers to be matched and custom task trained for applicants.

Contact Us!

Email: theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com


 Find us on Instagram: theservicedogconnection


Like us on Facebook: The Service Dog Connection

CURRENT FUNDRAISERS

Help Tehya get a service dog

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tehya-get-a-service-dog?member=11890107&sharetype=teams&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Tehya is fundraising for a Psychiatric Service Dog but is also going to be a puppy raiser for us until she gets placed with her own program dog.  This is not only going to help others get their service dog, but it will help Tehya get real life practice with our service dog handling techniques to better prepare her for her future service dog.  We are excited to be working with her on this in the near future.

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

Help Elise de Groot through her battle with Cancer

https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpELiseamdherservicedogBEATCANCER?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Elise has been an amazing part of our service dog community.  She received a service dog from us over a year ago and has since been dedicated to supporting other service dog teams, and fostering other service dogs in training.  They are a model team that has given back to this community immensely.  Now it is our time to help give back to her!

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