Katie Bacon
Katie's journey began in Colorado, where she was raised on her family’s working cattle ranch on the western slope. This upbringing instilled in her a deep connection to and understanding of animals from a very young age, as she was constantly surrounded by and responsible for their care. Following her passion for animal welfare, Katie pursued and earned an Associates Degree in Applied Sciences from Front Range Community College.
For over 13 years, Katie dedicated her professional life to veterinary medicine, working as a highly experienced Veterinary Technician on the Colorado Front Range. Her extensive time in this field provided her with invaluable knowledge of animal health, behavior, and emergency care. A change of scenery took her to Indiana for a time, but the call of the West eventually brought her back.
Upon returning, Katie sought a new career path that would leverage her skills and passion in a different way. She discovered Paragon Service Dogs and found a perfect and fulfilling match for her expertise and dedication.
At Paragon Service Dogs, Katie serves as the essential Puppy Program Assistant. In this role, she works hand-in-hand with PAWS'abilities, a vital prison puppy raising and training program operating in partnership with the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington, Wyoming. This unique program is instrumental in preparing future service dogs.
Katie takes on the rewarding task of providing a crucial break for a pair of the puppies-in-training from their dedicated Master Handlers and the routine of prison life. These outings are not merely playtime; they are carefully structured opportunities designed to give the young dogs essential exposure to the "real world." By experiencing diverse environments, sounds, people, and situations outside the prison, the puppies develop the foundational socialization and desensitization skills necessary for their future roles as service dogs. Katie finds immense joy in working with these special puppies, contributing directly to their development, and is consistently expanding her knowledge in the fields of animal behavior and professional training.
