We would like to introduce you to Katarina Coates, the newest member of WCC’s pack!

Katarina joins WCC as its newest Program Manager and Service Dog Training Instructor in Pittsburgh, Pa., where WCC will officially launch a new program this fall.

Katarina entered the dog training world in 2011 while pursuing a degree in education at DePaul University. She adopted a dog, Baby, who had several behavioral issues which prompted Katarina to sign him up for dog training classes. In so doing, she realized her love for teaching dogs over high school students. Katarina transferred out of the department of education and instead completed her degree in philosophy with an emphasis on personal identity and the disruptive effects post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has on one’s sense of self.

Her training pursuits eventually led to a focus on service dogs after she interned with one of the largest animal shelters in Chicago and completed its apprentice program. Katarina has studied under world-renowned dog trainers and continues her education through seminars led by pioneers in the ever-advancing dog training world. After completing a four-month dog trainer immersion program, Katarina ventured into the K9 fields of training. She accepted a position working as a bomb dog handler and shared her workplace with many Veterans and ex-law enforcement.

Katarina shared that she feels she has ‘lucked out’ by joining WCC, and she’s excited by the challenge ahead of launching a new program in Pittsburgh.

“I am grateful for the sacrifices that Veterans have made for our country,” said Katarina. “I feel it is essential to support those that have protected us and the best way I know how is by offering a dog trained specifically to improve one’s life—the evidence of their ability to do so is prolific. WCC embodies the morals and missions I believe are required to be an ethical non-profit and I believe fully in what we’re aiming to do and how we are going about it.”

Outside of work, Katarina enjoys building Lego sets (she has a huge collection), reading and competing in herding trials with Primrose, her Border Collie. Primrose is one of her three dogs; she also has Lucio, a Husky Shepherd mix who is on the search & rescue path, and Maze, a Rottweiler.

Please join us in welcoming Katarina to the team!

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