Who We Are
Sara Steiner, Owner
I have had the privilege of sharing my life with dogs for over 20 years. I volunteered with my local SPCA for a decade, and that’s where my love for dogs blossomed. I started out in the cat room where I was comfortable and slowly migrated to socializing and walking dogs and that’s when I was hooked.
At the time I was finishing my college degree and found a career in the environmental field (my other passion). I was able to combine my love of the outdoors, science and public service managing and educating citizen volunteers, but I’ve always known I would come back to the animal world, and my big motivation was our most recent rescue, Finn.
Finn had a tough start to life. He has taught me so much about patience, connection, behavior, and confidence. While we were struggling through puppyhood and adolescence, I was struggling to find a support system to help me deal with my struggles and feelings of failure as a dog guardian. I decided to embark on the journey of building a place where we celebrate and share the connections we have with our dogs in a positive and safe environment and support each other through the ups and downs of dog guardianship. I believe dogs are family and are an integral part of our emotional and physical well-being, and I can't think of a better way to give back to them, than to provide a safe space to further their well-being. A space where we support our dogs and each other by providing a sense of community and connection with, through and for our dogs.
I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to share Canine Connection with the community and am looking forward to welcoming paws and people!
Jessica Murphy, Day Camp Supervisor
Meet Jess, our resident former kindergarten teacher turned puppy teacher! As Canine Connection’s Day Care Supervisor, Jess brings patience, humor, confidence, and a whole lot of love to everything she does.
With a lifelong love for both dogs and cats, Jess is passionate about providing the best possible care for every dog in our pack. Her background in education gives her a natural ability to create a safe, positive, and enriching environment where dogs can learn, play, socialize, and thrive.
Jess has also completed Pack Pro Training for Daycare Employees, further strengthening her knowledge and skills in providing high-quality care in a group daycare environment.
We simply can’t say enough positive things about Jess—and neither can the dogs! Her calm confidence, caring personality, and genuine love for our canine campers make her such an important part of the Canine Connection team.
We’re so lucky to have Jess helping lead our daycare team and caring for our pups each day!
Amy McGrath, Day Camp Assistant
A Laconia native and enthusiastic lover of all things dogs, Amy brings years of experience in pet sitting and dog walking to the Canine Connection team.
Amy truly loves the dogs in her care and brings positivity, humor, and plenty of enthusiasm to every day. She has a natural ability to make dogs feel comfortable, happy, and loved, and she’s always ready to share her lap for a cuddle or spend time giving each pup the attention they deserve.
Her genuine love for dogs is hard to miss. In fact, if given the opportunity, Amy would probably bring every puppy home with her!
We’re grateful to have Amy as part of the Canine Connection team. Her caring nature, playful personality, and dedication to our dogs help make Canine Connection a place where every pup can feel right at home.
Devan Cameron, Day Camp Assistant
Devan joined the Canine Connection team with a genuine love of dogs and an eagerness to learn, grow, and apply his knowledge to providing the best possible care for our day camp dogs.
Devan has completed Pack Pro Training for Daycare Employees and has become a daily staple at Camp Canine Connection. He has worked hard to build individual relationships with the dogs in his care, taking the time to understand each dog’s personality, preferences, and needs.
One of Devan’s strengths is creating enrichment activities tailored to the dogs he’s caring for, helping make each day fun, engaging, and rewarding. His calm, easygoing nature also makes him a natural fit for the day camp environment, and a definite favorite among the dogs!
We’re so happy to have Devan on our team and appreciate the care, patience, and enthusiasm he brings to camp every day!
