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
    • Board & Train
    • Adoptable Dogs
    • Therapy Dogs
    • Breeding Program
    • Adding New Program Dogs
  • Home
  • Service Dogs
    • Our Service Dog Program
    • Current Dogs in Training
    • Placed Service Dogs
    • FAQ
  • Puppy Raisers
  • Board & Train
  • Adoptable Dogs
  • Therapy Dogs
  • Breeding Program
  • Adding New Program Dogs
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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

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

Located in Atascadero, CA

RECENT NEWS

Blanco GRADUATED AND was placed in Tampa, Florida as a psych service dog

Blanco entered our training program in July, 2021.  He was an owner surrender from Houston, TX that passed health testing and became our resident baby daddy to a litter of Golden Retrievers.  Blanco spent a considerable amount of time both with staff and with puppy raisers before being specialized as a psychiatric service dog.  


He now lives in Tampa and attends University of South Florida with his handler.  His new family reports that he is already making such a difference in her life, and gives her a reason to enjoy waking up each day.  He graduated on August 3, 2022.

EMBER is looking for a puppy raiser

Ember is a 10-week-old Saint Bernard Puppy that is currently working on potty training and basic commands.  She won't be done with her puppy shots for another month and a half, so Ember must be carried in a puppy backpack, stroller, or in your arms any time she goes out in public currently.  


We are looking for a puppy raiser that can commit to a minimum of 3 months if local to us, or a minimum of 6 months if the puppy raiser is over 3 hours away from Atascadero, CA.  Ember will need lots of guidance as she learns basic commands, house manners, and public access skills, but our staff is here to support you every step of the way.  


Our program provides supplies for our dogs and covers all veterinary expenses, so our puppy raisers can just focus on training!

Calvin Graduated and was placed in Villa Grove, Il as an Autism Service Dog

Calvin entered our training program in December, 2021.  He was an owner surrender from Sacramento, CA that won everyone over with his even temperament and desire to please.  He spent months with three different puppy raisers all over California getting great exposure to hospitals, climbing gyms. preschool events and the local fair.  


Morgan is a young man with Autism and seizures that had been on our wait list for two years and was struggling even more with meltdowns since the loss of his Saint Bernard, George.  We wanted to match Calvin with this family because of his ability to be tuned into emotions without being fearful during meltdowns, but the family was struggling to fundraise.  


Two of our other incredible applicant families unexpectedly rallied around them and decided to donate enough to cover the remaining cost of Calvin.  Everyone involved in this placement could not be more grateful to the families that have come together to make this placement a reality for this young teen in need!


Calvin is attending High School with Morgan and graduated on August 14, 2022.

OUR TEAM

Kelly Sosa

Founder, Trainer, Executive Director

Kelly is a positive reinforcement service dog trainer with 18 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 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. 

Contact Us!

Email: theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com


 Find us on Instagram: theservicedogconnection


Like us on Facebook: The Service Dog Connection

CURRENT FUNDRAISERS

Help Ilana fundraise for Blanco the Psychiatric Service Dog

Help Ilana fundraise for Blanco the Psychiatric Service Dog

Help Ilana fundraise for Blanco the Psychiatric Service Dog

https://gofund.me/a0ebca08


Ilana has been matched with our program golden retriever, Blanco, but needs help fundraising for the final payment on him.  He is being specially task trained to assist in her anxiety and will live in Tampa, Florida with her attending college.  

Support our Emergency Vet Bills Fund

Help Ilana fundraise for Blanco the Psychiatric Service Dog

Help Ilana fundraise for Blanco the Psychiatric Service Dog

https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-vet-fund-for-the-service-dog-connection?qid=328fbabacabdf7b7419d8f7b6c501ab9


Emergency Vet bills pop up randomly, and this fundraiser allows our program to cover these unexpected costs when they arise.  

This funding has helped us cover treatment for things like ingested foreign objects, ringworm, hip and elbow dysplasia, and most recently the treatment of one of our service dogs in training that was in a house fire.  Without your support, we couldn't do what we do for our dogs in the most stressful of times.

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!

Help Anya Bershatsky 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-anya-get-a-service-dog?qid=86cdcb25800a8d10259fcecb88ceee25


Anya is raising money for a new service dog from us. The service dog in the photo is Maggie. Maggie supported Anya for two years, but was recently retired due to her own health issues. Now she needs to come up with the funds for a new service dog to support with medical alert, mobility, and more. A service dog will help get her independence back! Anya is also one of our volunteers that has raised service dogs for others with disabilities.  Now it is time to give back to Anya the way she has for others already.

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