Climber Interview: Kelly Sosa

I am Kelly Sosa. I am 27 years old, and I am a service dog trainer and the founder of The Service Dog Connection.

How did you start climbing?

I got into climbing in college and immediately fell in love with the sport. I quickly immersed myself in learning as much as possible and eventually became a rock climbing guide for my school’s outdoor program.

What impact has climbing had on your life?

Climbing has done an incredible job of teaching me more about myself than any therapist ever has. I’ve learned the value of type-2 fun, how to regulate my emotions in scary situations, who I really trust, and most importantly how to trust myself. Happiness is living out of your truck and charging up crack climbs at Indian Creek, or meeting a complete stranger at the local climbing gym in Rome who then takes you on a 5-pitch route on chalky white cliffs over the Mediterranean Sea. This completely pointless but highly addicting activity has shown me that community, teamwork, and spontaneity can bring you side by side with the most beautiful views and souls the world has to offer.

What are some other things you do that you find most fulfilling?

My other passions include drawing and painting, rescuing and training dogs, and eating excessive amounts of chocolate!

If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

My hands don’t sweat, so years ago I filled my chalk bag with gummy worms and sour patch kids. If you need your chalk bag, get a second one for candy. The candy is not optional.

Image of Kelly Sosa by Thomas Kofron

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

As a fellow artist, I can really appreciate the creative artistry

Is there something you're working on that you'd like to tell our community about? We love a good story.

I founded The Service Dog Connection with a vision of providing quality custom service dogs at affordable prices. My life is full of dogs, and my living room has an average of 12 adorable dogs in it at a time. We are always looking for volunteers to get involved with these amazing dogs and their journey to help someone with a disability. A good chunk of our current volunteers came about from staff and members of my local climbing gym!

 You can find Kelly on Instagram at @kelldogsosa, and the Service Dog Connection.

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Interviews here.

We hope you have enjoyed these sneak peeks into climbers' lives. We're on a mission to share diverse stories about rock climbing. Let's push the boundaries of who we know as climbers. Let's use our energy and passion for the outdoors to love our environment and inspire one another.

Have someone you think we should feature? Send us a message and let us know!