dr. sarah sitting outside with several dogs on a table

WHERE DOGS AND THEIR PEOPLE CONNECT

About The Canine Connection

At The Canine Connection, we’re more than just a training service or a daycare and boarding center—we’re Chico’s premier destination for positive reinforcement training and top-tier enrichment daycare and overnight boarding.

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Certified Professional Dog Trainer-KA
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant  
Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer
Licensed Therapy Dog Evaluator

dr. sarah sitting with a black and white dog under a tree

OWNER AND FOUNDER

Dr. Sarah Richardson

Founded in 2002 by Dr. Sarah Richardson, The Canine Connection began with a simple goal: to provide Chico, California with humane, force-free dog training.

After realizing the area lacked modern, positive reinforcement training options, Sarah opened The Academy to help dogs and their owners build meaningful, joyful connections through proven methods.

Soon clients were asking for play sessions, daycare, and overnight care, which led to the birth of The Resort, now a premier destination for dogs seeking fun and enrichment while their owners are away.

DR. SARAH'S BACKGROUND

EXPERT CARE, Tail-Wagging Fun

meet the Rest of the team

We don’t think you’ll find a better team of dog care professionals anywhere!

Our team members include certified graduates of the nation’s leading training academies, those who hold or are pursing degrees in animal science, Certified Veterinary Assistants, those en route to becoming veterinarians, and many who are “Fear Free” certified. We are credentialed, competent and… we really care about dogs and their people!

The Academy Team: Training And Behavior

Ally Padgett

TRAINER - INSTRUCTOR
TRAINING COORDINATOR
B.S. Agricultural Business, Chico State
KPA CTP, Karen Pryor Academy
Ally grew up in Chico, surrounded by animals. She has been involved with The Canine Connection for over a decade, getting hooked on training when her family brought their family dog, Georgie, through our puppy program. As Georgie grew, so did Ally's love for training.
Fast forward to today and Ally is a graduate of the acclaimed and challenging Karen Pryor Academy professional trainer program, specializing in positive training.
Ally has worn many hats at The Canine Connection over the many years she has been with us. She started as a training assistant, fresh out of high school, became our training coordinator after she graduated from Chico State, and is now also one of our excellent trainers.
Perhaps the most important hat Ally wears, however, is that of mother to her beautiful new baby, Kodi, who is bound to be an animal lover like her mom.
Anna Basalaev-Binder

TRAINER-INSTRUCTOR
B.A. Fine Arts, Mills College
Graduate with Distinction, CATCH Canine Trainers Academy
Anna Basalaev-Binder graduated, with distinction, from CATCH Canine Training Academy. As part of her studies she completed a mentorship with Dr. Sarah Richardson at The Canine Connection as well as a shelter mentorship at the Northwest SPCA.
Anna also completed the aggression and anxiety mentorship program through the IAABC Foundation in 2025, and is dedicated to always furthering the knowledge and skills she has to help the dogs in our lives and community!
Anna is passionate about dog/animal liberation, welfare and rescue, and has a focus and love of helping dogs with behavioral issues such as fear, aggression and anxiety live enriched lives with the people who love them!
Aside from a passion for dogs and animals, Anna loves painting and holds a BA in fine arts from Mills College. Anna lives rurally outside of Chico with her 3 dogs, 2 cats, 4 sheep, many chickens and even a few human friends.
Nancy Kerns

TRAINER-INSTRUCTOR
B.A. Journalism, San Francisco State University
Horsemastership Graduate, Pacific Horse Center
Nancy is the founding and longtime (25+ years!) editor-in-chief of the internationally renowned Whole Dog Journal, a leading source of information about positive dog training, nutrition, and health. In that capacity, she has been on the front lines of positive training for almost three decades.
Closer to home, Nancy has extensive “hands on” experience training puppies and teenage dogs. She has fostered and helped support adopters of over 100 puppies and adolescent dogs for Northwest SPCA in Oroville. That’s a lot of experience with dogs at the two most critical developmental stages: puppy hood and adolescence.
Nancy loves helping people take their training into the “real world,” so don’t be surprised if you find Nancy and her students out and about, on trails or in cafes, practicing what it means to take training foundations to an even higher and more joyful level in our beautiful Norcal environments.
Deb Martell

TRAINER-INSTRUCTOR
GROOMER
B.S. Natural Resources Conservation
University of British Columbia
VSA-CDT (in Person with Distinction), Victoria Stilwell Academy
Deb is a professional dog groomer and positive trainer who is originally from British Columbia, Canada, Deb first had a brief but rewarding career in wildlife management but then followed her true passion back to the best animal of all, the domestic dog!
Deb has been working as a groomer for about 15 years and finds it incredibly rewarding. Along the way, her work with shelters and foster dogs compelled her to want to learn more about dog behavior and positive training. She enrolled in the highly regarded Victoria Stilwell Academy for dog trainers and become a certified positive trainer as well!
With both grooming and training, Deb's work exemplifies her belief that dogs are intelligent, intuitive, unique creatures, and each one is truly a unique individual.
Her own dogs are Timber, a young, energetic German Shepherd Dog and Cinnamon, a sweet senior pitbull mix.
Christine Fixico-Silver

CERTIFIED CAT BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT
B.S. Psychology, Chico State
M.S. Psychology, Chico State
CCBC, CVPM, MS, HAB, CCBC,
Fear Free Certified
Christine’s life has always been about the animals. She began working professionally with them as a veterinary assistant in her hometown of Paradise and worked her way into practice management, overseeing busy veterinary practices in California and Arizona.
Christine completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology at Chico State, focusing on the human-animal bond. Her passion for cats led to her becoming a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. Christine consults with people around the country regarding the behaviors of their feline friends using Zoom and other technologies.
Christine lives in Peoria, Arizona with her husband, a clowder of cats, two ferrets, and a very tolerant black lab.
Olivia Porcayo

TRAINING ASSISTANT
B.S. Animal Science, Chico State
Olivia moved to Chico from Healdsburg to pursue her degree in Animal Science at Chico State. During her program, she spent a semester abroad in Spain. Upon her return, she began working for a local veterinary office.
When she began to develop an interest in animal behavior, Olivia sought out The Canine Connection and quickly became an important part of our team. Now a Chico State grad, Olivia splits her work time between veterinary care and The Canine Connection.
Olivia loves helping shelter dogs in need of some special attention. She has opened her heart and home to numerous foster dogs, bringing them through our training training program and helping them to become happier, better mannered, and more adoptable. What lucky dogs!

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The Resort Team: Daycare and Boarding

Jessica Batista

CLIENT CARE COORDINATOR
B.S. Animal Science, Chico State
Fear Free Certified
Originally from Southern California, Jess moved to Chico to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Chico State.
Her love of dogs led her to The Canine Connection where she quickly learned their language. She also quickly progressed through the ranks from Kennel Tech to the important role of client care.
While Jess loves working with dogs, she and her sweetie are parents to two beloved cats and (drumroll)… have just become parents to a darling, little girl named Ellie who is currently the youngest member of our Canine Connection team.
Avery Beaudette

DOG CARE SPECIALIST
B.S. Psychology, Chico State
Fear Free Certified
Avery moved to Chico from Placerville to pursue his bachelor’s degree at Chico State.
Upon graduating from the honors program in Psychology, he began his career working with animals, first at Chico Animal Shelter prior to joining The Canine Connection team.
An enthusiastic cyclist and crafter of custom leather leashes, Avery shares his home and heart with his energetic dog, Eowyn, his curious cat, Augustus (both adopted from Chico Animal Shelter) and his fiancé and son.
Jazmyne Craig

DOG CARE SPECIALIST
B.S. Animal Science, Chico State
Jazmyne grew up in SoCal where
she was born with a love of animals. Throughout her life, she’s cared for almost every category of companion animal!
Jazmyne decided to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Chico State after working with horses in her youth. Her special connection with dogs, and interest in training and behavior, led her to The Canine Connection.
Jazymne and her husband are parents to two dogs, Harley, a pitbull mix, and Copper, a dachshund, the spoiled lights of their lives. While Harley is a bit of a homebody, Copper is an essential part of our “Littles” social group at The Resort.
Reed Hansen

DOG CARE SPECIALIST
B.A. Environmental Studies & Studio Arts, UCSC
Reed has been part of The Canine Connection family since they were a child. Their family fostered dozens of puppies and dogs for local animal organizations and many of them came though our training program!
Reed has worn many hats while with us, from overnight attendant to client care coordinator. Reed is an accomplished oil painter and printmaker.
They enjoy their own art practice and volunteering with Chico State’s printmaking program.
Lindsay Dollar

DOG CARE SPECIALIST
Fear Free Certified
Lindsay was born and raised in Chico. Prior to joining The Canine Connection, she worked with many species including tigers, bears, leopards, and all sorts of reptiles.
She is an avid reader and can often be found during her lunch breaks cuddling and reading with our visiting canine guests.
Lindsay is also an active gardner. She and her husband are parents to two boys and share their loving home with a sweet dog named Taco, adopted from a local rescue.
Frankie Thomson

DOG CARE ATTENDANT
Certified Veterinary Assistant
Fear Free Certfiied
Frankie is a dog enthusiast, cat lover, and recent graduate of the ROP Certified Veterinary Assistant program.
They enjoy cooking, crafting, and drawing. In fact, Frankie is the artist who created our beautiful greeting cards depicting our team dogs!
A Chico native, Frankie loves exploring Upper Park and other natural areas. They are proudly non-binary and advocate for inclusion and equality.
Izzy Otis

DOG CARE ATTENDANT
B.S. Animal Science, Chico State
Izzy grew up in SoCal with a large animal family that included dogs, goats, chickens, and tortoises. Her love of animals brought her to Chico State where she completed her Bachelors degree in Animal Science.
After graduation, Izzy headed off to South Africa to assist a non-profit that provided medical care to stray and wild captive animals.
Mom to two cats, Izzy is working on obtaining her certification to become an RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician).
Danielle Moran

DOG CARE ATTENDANT
Danielle is a California native who has spent nearly a decade volunteering at animal shelters after adopting her own dogs. Her deep love for animals fuels her passion for giving back to her community and helping rescue pups find their forever homes.
When she's not dedicating her free time to animal welfare, you can find Danielle out hiking, exploring, or seeking her next adventure in the great outdoors.
Danielle has two senior dogs of her own, Mila and Bug. They have joined Danielle on hikes in five different states but have now retired to enjoying the simplicity of neighborhood walks.
Allison Kandra

DOG CARE ATTENDANT
B.S. Animal Science, Chico State
Allison grew up in NorCal, surrounded by dogs and cats and a menagerie of other animals. Her involvement in 4-H and FFA led to her raising swine, cattle and goats and fostered her desire pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
During college at Chico State, she was an intern at the Butte Humane Society clinic and the Farm Beef Unit, providing standard and medical care to community pets and livestock.
Allison, who is the parent of two cats, Whiskey and Brandon, is soaking up lots of knowledge about dog behavior and care prior to her heading to veterinary school!
Max Maraschiello

DOG CARE ATTENDANT
Max is Chico born and raised! He grew up with a family full of dogs and cats, developing a passion for animals early in life.
Prior to joining The Canine Connection, Max worked for a local pet walking and sitting company we hold in high regard, Sitter For Your Critters. His love of dogs and desire to learn more about dog behavior brought him to The Canine Connection, where his fun and friendly approach brightens the lives of dogs and people.
Max loves cats too and is the proud parent of two orange cats, Mal and Pearl. We hope they forgive Max for going to the dogs when he goes to work!
Elijah Zazueta

KENNEL TECH
Elijah grew up in the Central Valley, where he spent his summers caring for family pets and raising goats through his school’s FFA program. These experiences sparked his passion for animals.
He moved to Chico to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, focusing on pre-Veterinary medicine, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian for dogs and cats.
Through his work at The Canine Connection, Elijah is gaining valuable experience in dog behavior, further preparing him for his future career. We see his spirit of compassion and detail-oriented care for animals in all that he does at The Canine Connection and are honored to be part of his journey into the veterinary field.
Zach Eigenbrode

KENNEL TECH
Originally from San Diego, Zach moved to Chico to attend Chico State. He will graduate in 2025 with his B.S. in Business Administration, focusing on Project Management.
Zach has always loved animals and grew up surrounded by them. In fact, he felt a connection to the mission of The Canine Connection because his mother is a professional positive reinforcement dog trainer! Two dogs that are very special to Zach are Koda and Sophie, his family’s two German Shepherds.
In his free time, Zach enjoys skateboarding and playing guitar. He loves the creativity and freedom that both hobbies allow him to express. Sometimes, he brings his guitar to work and shares his music with the dogs. They appreciate it and so do we!
Dane Wright

KENNEL TECH
Originally from SoCal, Dane moved to NorCal to attend Chico State. He is currently pursuing his B.S. in Animal Science with an emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Sciences and a minor in Biological Sciences. Dane is also an active member of the Chico State Ultimate Frisbee team.
A long time animal lover, Dane is the proud parent of numerous animal companions: a sassy tuxedo cat named Salem, a kleptomaniacat named Callie, a playful German Shepherd mix named Ozzy, a senior chihuahua named Barney, and two new additions to the family, Shih Tzus sisters, Lacey and Fifi.
About his work at The Canine Connection, Dane says: “Being at the Canine Connection has taught me so much and I always look forward to learning more so I can be the best future veterinarian I can be!”
Yuliana Salcedo

KENNEL TECH
Yuliana has always felt a deep connection with animals, growing up surrounded by furry companions. Her passion for animals led her to the Canine Connection, where she embraced the opportunity to care for dogs everyday. To Yuliana, dogs are more than just pets—they are lifelong companions who bring joy and comfort.
A NorCal native, Yuliana is currently a student at Butte College, focusing on health care operations. She shares her life with Naila, a high energy German Shepherd-Husky mix and Luna, a spoiled and affectionate chihuahua.
Eli Cook

BOARDING ATTENDANT
Certified Veterinary Assistant
Eli, strength: can fold a fitted sheet. Weakness: Anything on a high shelf. After 10+ years of caregiving he pursued his passion of working with animals.
Having become a Certified Veterinary Assistant through the Butte County ROP program, he hopes to further his education in veterinary medicine.
A perpetual night owl, nothing makes him happier than singing show tunes to our lovely dog guests throughout the night.
Chloe Gray

BOARDING ATTENDANT
BA Communication Design, Chico State
Born and raised in Chico, Chloe graduated from Chico State. She has had a lifelong love for all animals, spending her youth learning all she could about animals, from horses to lizards, but especially dogs.
Having volunteered & worked with Butte Humane Society in the past, and having brought her own family dog through our training program, Chloe was thrilled to join the team at Canine Connection.
Chloe is a proud mom to a senior Pit Bull/Boxer mix, Homer (whom she met & fell in love with when he was being fostered by The Canine Connection for Chico Animal Shelter) and the sweetest little leopard gecko you could ever meet, Smuckers.
JD Estep

BOARDING ATTENDANT
B.A. English, UC Berkeley
Ph.D. Communications Technology, Michigan Technological University
When JD was in grad school In Michigan, she missed her Chico dog so badly that she exercised and fostered dogs for the local humane society. When she moved back to Chico, she brought along her four newly adopted dogs.
Thirteen fosters and several additional rescue adoptions later, JD stays busy running family businesses, enjoying the Chico orchards with her husband and their three border collies, and lovingly caring for our overnight guests.

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building stronger bonds between
dogs and their people

At the root of all we do is a belief that dogs are thinking, feeling partners in our lives and that it is our responsibility to better understand them so that we can be their best guardians.

We believe that the connection between dogs and people can be life-changing, which is why we provide the resources to enhance that connection.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

GIVING BACK TO CHICO

Community Involvement

We’re not just passionate about our Canine Connection dogs—we’re dedicated to helping dogs throughout our community. Our core values include extending our work outward to the community we love, helping communities, people, and dogs in need. Together, we can make our community - our world - a better place for dogs and the people who love them and care for them.

JOIN THE MISSION

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Join Our Tribe

Are you passionate about working with dogs and dedicated to providing top-quality care? At The Canine Connection, we hire outstanding individuals to work with our amazing clients and their dogs.

Our standards for professionalism are high, the work is challenging, and the rewards are great. Check out our openings and apply today!

APPLY TODAY

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Ready for a happier, well-trained dog?

Whether you're looking to strengthen your dog's skills or give them a fun, safe place to stay, The Canine Connection is here to help!

START TRAINING TODAY

LEARN ABOUT THE RESORT

WHERE DOGS AND THEIR PEOPLE CONNECT

About The Canine Connection

OWNER AND FOUNDER

Dr. Sarah Richardson

EXPERT CARE, Tail-Wagging Fun

meet the Rest of the team

Ally Padgett

Anna Basalaev-Binder

Olivia Porcayo

Jessica Batista

Avery Beaudette

JD Estep

building stronger bonds between dogs and their people

GIVING BACK TO CHICO

Community Involvement

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Join Our Tribe

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Ready for a happier, well-trained dog?

EXPLORE

ABOUT RESOURCESEMPLOYMENT CONTACT

THE ACADEMY

PUPPYADolescent and adultCONTINUING EDFEAR AND ANXIETY

THE RESORT

dAYCAREboARDING

building stronger bonds between
dogs and their people

ABOUT
 RESOURCES
EMPLOYMENT 
CONTACT

PUPPY
ADolescent and adult
CONTINUING ED
FEAR AND ANXIETY

dAYCARE
boARDING