The Service Dog Connection

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.

Customized service dogs for the individualized need

Customized service dogs for the individualized need

NEW NAME. SAME AMAZING SERVICE DOGS

OUR TEAM

Kelly Sosa

Founder, Trainer, Executive Director

Dimi Hall

Service Dog Placement Trainer

Tiffany Dawson

Service Dog Trainer & Evaluator

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