Meet the Trainers
Our trainers are here to help.
Our team will help you improve your pet’s behavior using force-free, scientific training methods that emphasize positive reinforcement.
Austin Flis
Austin’s love for dogs began at a very young age. Family can recall him carrying around a dog breed encyclopedia and trying to teach everyone that would listen about the different breeds. Having been born and raised on Aquidneck Island, Austin was always eager to visit the Potter League as much as possible, and always dreamed of being able to work at an animal shelter.
Austin first joined the Potter League as a volunteer in 2014, assisting with training dogs, as well as socializing with cats and rabbits. He was soon hired as a part-time Animal Care Associate in 2015 where it became evident that Austin had a love for all companion animals. Austin was promoted to Behavior Services Manager in August 2021.
Austin spends his down time with his partner, his German Shepherd named Casper, and his two house rabbits. Austin aspires to always be learning about animal behavior.
Dale Alley
Dale has been working with dogs for over 15 years, after spending the first 29 years of her career as a Supervising Chemist for the Rhode Island Department of Health Laboratories. A dog lover all her life, when retirement loomed, she quickly and luckily found herself involved in all things “Dog”.
Dale become a certified small animal massage therapist, graduating from Bancroft School of Massage in Worcester, MA and found herself working for several pet sitting services: Happy Dog Pet Sitting, Courteous Canine, and Paws Unlimited Pet Services. She also participated in pet rescue, volunteering for Friends of Homeless Animals, Inc. And most importantly, she became involved in dog training, working at several facilities: R.I. Dog Guy, Courteous Canine, Petco, and finally at the Potter League, where she has been one of our beloved trainers since 2012.
Dale is a firm believer of positive reinforcement training methods – the best methods get the best results. She has extensive experience with all sizes, ages and temperaments, ranging from puppies through senior dogs, special needs dogs, and all manners of behavior issues (aggression, separation anxiety, fear-based issues, etc.). In addition to teaching Basic Obedience skills to all ages of dogs and their parents, Dale also teaches AKC-sponsored classes like CGC certification and AKC S.T.A.R Puppy, as well as several types of sport classes.
Dale is the proud owner of 3 Boston Terriers: Tobey (14 years old), Booker (7 years old), and Emmett (2 years old). They’re what keep her going.
Kim Cipolla, CPDT-KA
Kim has been working with dogs and their humans for over 17 years, and has extensive experience with all sizes, ages and temperaments. Her focus is on developing the relationship between the dog and their handler through the use of clear, consistent cues and body language.
With an emphasis on rewarding “good” behaviors and ignoring and redirecting undesirable behaviors, she will show you how to communicate with your dog effectively and thoughtfully to achieve your goals.
Kim specializes in addressing behavior problems common among dogs adopted from shelters and rescue organizations. She teaches basic skills and provides solutions to typical unwanted behaviors such as leash reaction towards other dogs, housebreaking, inappropriate greetings, and unreliable recall. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), fully insured and a certified evaluator for Canine Good Citizenship titles.
Kim also teaches our various yoga classes we offer with animals.
Katy McLaughlin, CBCC-KA
Katy first developed a strong interest in dog training when she was ten years old. Within a short time, she knew that she wanted to become a dog trainer someday. Today, she is one of three Certified Canine Behavior Consultants in the state of RI, and works near-exclusively with dogs demonstrating severe behavioral concerns (such as those with acute anxiety, or human / animal directed aggression).
Katy joined the Potter League in 2014, where she began training shelter dogs and volunteers, as well as hosting several off-leash playgroups. She has a special affinity for playgroups, and over the years has developed a knack for helping dogs integrate into group-play settings. Whether they are nervous and unsure, or rough and rude — Katy works to ensure that every dog is safe, comfortable, and having fun, while actively helping them improve their social skills and develop a healthy play-style.
When Katy isn’t training dogs professionally, there is a good chance that she is training them recreationally, as it’s truly something she loves to do. When she isn’t training, Katy enjoys spending quality time with her two kids, as well as caring for her family and small, eclectic menagerie of pets.
John Reilly, CBCC-KA
John is a Canine Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) with a Master of Science degree in Anthrozoology and years of experience in training and helping to rehabilitate shelter dogs, preparing them for successful adoption. John is a volunteer trainer here at the Potter League and teaches our volunteer dog training classes.