Shannon Gaughan-Kelly

Shannon Gaughan-Kelly serves as the Youth Services Program Coordinator for Paws & Think. She has been involved in the dog world for many years, teaching training classes and competing in agility and Rally obedience. Shannon also served as a therapy team with her dog, Georgia, for seven years until Georgia’s retirement in 2021.

Shannon currently has two English Cocker Spaniels: Franky, age 11, who loves to run agility courses, and Holly, age 8, who prefers to lounge and relax. When her son was born in 2015, she put the agility and obedience competitions on hold with Franky but hopes to continue them soon!

In her spare time, Shannon enjoys photography, art, nature hikes, and gardening. Much of her free time is spent adventuring with her six-year-old son. They love exploring parks, having picnics, and visiting local museums and the zoo.

Shannon is originally from Whiting, Indiana, and was previously a classroom teacher for 9 years, teaching 2nd and 5th grade. She went to Marian University and earned a BA in psychology. She later returned and graduated with her elementary education certification. With her combined experience in education and working with dogs, her position at Paws and Think has been a perfect match. She says, “I love being part of an organization that brings comfort and healing to our community while promoting the human-canine bond and giving others the opportunity to see how much joy dogs can bring into our lives.”