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.
Paul Nadeau
The idea of being a dog trainer and working with shelter animals had been kicking around in Paul’s mind for years. Like many people, Paul did some soul searching during the pandemic and decided to make the leap and change careers. Paul began working in Animal Care for the Potter League in 2020 and was promoted to Behavior & Training Assistant in 2021. Paul is now a Certified Animal Shelter Behavior Manager and currently working toward becoming a Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI).
If you have ever called or emailed the Potter League regarding training classes or behavioral help for your dog or cat, you have likely spoken to Paul. But Paul finds working with the animals in the shelter to be the most exciting and rewarding part of his work. Paul is passionate about responsibilities like drafting and executing behavior modification plans for dogs and cats with behavioral issues preventing them from finding a home, conducting playgroups for shelter dogs, and overseeing enrichment activities for all of the animals in Potter League’s care.
Paul spends much of his free time with his beloved dog, Laika, frequenting the beaches and hiking trails of New England together.
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.
Michael Yencha, Ph.D., M.S.
Dr. Michael Yencha is an applied animal behaviorist and recent Rhode Island transplant. He attended West Virginia University for eight years where he earned a doctorate degree in behavior analysis and acquired skills in both teaching and animal training.
Michael has been training animals since 2016 and has experience working with family pets, barnyard animals, service animals, and laboratory animals. Additionally, he provides behavior consultations to families with destructive, aggressive, or otherwise distressful pets. In his free time, Michael enjoys kayaking, biking, camping, and playing with his two dogs, Stella and Scout.
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.
Kaylee Bashaw, CPDT-KA
Kaylee is a certified pet dog trainer, dedicated to helping dogs and their humans. Kaylee has been working with dogs for about 8 years now and every day she strives to learn something new from the dogs and people that she meets. Compassion, communication, and relationship-building are the foundation on which she builds all of my training.
Kaylee’s journey into dog training began after she adopted Copper as a six-year-old rescue pup, and transitioned from working with infants to working with dogs.
She is happiest when helping dogs reach their full potential and live their best lives and has a special place in her heart for giant breeds, senior pups, and dogs with fear and anxiety.
You will most often see Kaylee working with the shelter pups around the Potter League Animal Care Center lending a hand to our Behavior & Training team.