Diabetic Alert Dogs of America Jennifer Kaldy Edwin Peeples Ripping Off Peoplke with Disabilities Las Vegas Nevada

Diabetic Alert Dogs of America (DADoA) delivered to me a dog that does not meet industry standards for public access training in service dogs. I have tried work with them to find a solution. I had hoped based on their 100% client satisfaction guarantee that they would make this situation right. DADoA may dispute that this guarantee exists, but I have evidence that they have advertised a 100% client satisfaction guarantee. Over the past three months of contact I have found that DADoA is unwilling to stand behind their client satisfaction guarantee. Further, I have spoken with numerous other unsatisfied clients. DADoA has also provided misleading information in their communications with me. In providing excuses as to why they cannot provide a refund the company's director claimed that they are a non-profit company: I have evidence of this claim made in writing, but I have not found in any registries that they are non-profit. DADoA has also claimed, in writing, that they mirror the public access training standards of Assistance Dogs International (ADI). However, DADoA failed to disclose that they have removed two key criteria from ADI's standards, making it much easier for a dog to pass their training, but leaving the dogs much less suited to actual public access work: ADI's public access test stipulates that the dog be handled by the client (a novice handler) throughout the test. 

DADoA tested our dog while under control of a professional trainer, employed by DADoA ADI's public access test gives automatic failure to any dog showing aggressive behavior, including growling or uncontrollable behavior during the test o DADoA does not stipulate that any specific type of behavior is grounds for failure. During the delivery visit from DADoA, I was overly excited to receive my dog, and did not question the trainer thoroughly enough regarding alarming behaviors shown by our dog. Within minutes of being delivered, our dog was not willing to be handled, and would run away from my husband. o According to DADoA's own test, the dog should allow handling, and show no resentment or fear to a stranger that approaches. While leaving a restaurant, our dog barked several times at another dog, unwilling to calm down. 

By ADI standards, this is a failure. While at a pet store on the first day of delivery, our dog growled at a stranger that approached her.  This behavior is an automatic failure by ADI. At a park with the trainer, our dog was extremely reactive to other dogs - this was a behavior that did not alarm the trainer, or indicate to them that the dog was not properly trained. While at a store, our dog reacted to another dog - our trainer told us to walk the other direction when encountering another dog.  This has always seemed unreasonable to me - we just purchased a dog that was trained for public access. Am I supposed to just "walk the other direction" whenever I encounter another dog in a public setting? After the trainer left, these poor behaviors persisted. She growls at customers in my husband's office The vet was unable to perform a proper exam due to the dog's aggression. Walks at the park elicit reactivity to other dogs. I have videos of her typical behavior in these settings; barking, growling, etc. When transiting through airports we always encounter other dogs - my dog will react and frequently bark. Am I supposed to "walk the other direction" while standing in the security line? I have numerous communications trying to resolve these behavior issues with DADoA.

I followed any instruction I was given, and spent numerous hours with my dog attempting to improve her behavior. I have done everything within reason to maintain, and even improve, the level of training my dog had at delivery. Unfortunately, I must conclude that I fulfilled my end of the contract in paying DADoA $15,000, but they did not deliver a trained service dog that is capable of consistent good behavior in public spaces. I have attempted to provide fair avenues to resolve this dispute with only two conditions; I will not spend money to get the dog back to them because they should have delivered a dog with completed training in the first place. I am also not willing to separate from my dog for medical reasons - my husband travels for work, and due to hypoglycemia unawareness, it is unsafe for me to be without the dog.

Following is an abbreviated version of communication and contact with DADoA: My initial request was to provide airfare and one week of hotel for me to accompany the dog and complete training (I later learned from other trainers, including one of their own, that one week would be too short).  DADoA refused this request stating they are a "non-profit generating company". I find this reason to be completely irrelevant and misleading.  DADoA suggested that I pay travel costs to bring my dog to them. While delivering another dog in our area, DADoA did have a trainer spend 3 hours with us. Prior to this training, I emphasized this was a good start, but not enough to resolve the issue. o DADoA did offer to take our dog back with them after this visit - but as stated before, this is not an option for me due to health reasons. After the visit, DADoA's director contacted me via phone. He stated that he was willing to train a new dog for me, and take my current dog back. I advised him that after nearly two years this dog is a part of my family, and I would prefer my current dog to be trained properly.

The company's director suggested that I discuss this matter with my husband. Shortly thereafter, I contacted the company's director and provided additional options to resolve the matter. 1. We would pay DADoA whatever the invoice cost was for our current dog so we could keep her as a pet. DADoA would then acquire a new dog, and train it properly. 2. DADoA could refund $7500 to provide funds for training of our dog locally. DADoA refused both options. The company's owner contacted me in a further attempt to resolve the issue - she offered no new solutions. I am forced to call into question the training capability, and also the quality of testing for public access- I am afraid that it is woefully flawed. DADoA contacted me on April 7, 2015 to let me know that my dog was ready for delivery, and that delivery was set for April 18-19, 2015. At this point, I believe it is logical to conclude that DADoA has committed to travel plans, and has strong reason to proceed with these plans. My dog's final testing prior to delivery was performed on 4-16-2015, only 2 days prior to delivery. At this point in time, it would have been very difficult, and embarrassing for them to change the delivery date if any training deficiencies were discovered with my dog. I believe that the professional trainer employed by DADoA that handled the final testing has significant motivation to "pass" the dog through training at this stage to avoid causing issues with travel plans and delivery dates already set.

This process has eliminated any trust that I have in dealing with DADoA - I believe them to be dishonest and unethical. I am no longer willing to accept a new dog that has been trained by them, and I am no longer willing to have my current dog complete training with them. I am currently pursuing training with a reputable trainer who will be able to address the dog's behavior issues. She has estimated the cost to properly train my dog at $10,000. For this reason, I am requesting a $10,000 refund from DADoA. I have attempted to provide a thorough review of my experience with DADoA. I now believe it is their ethical responsibility to resolve this issue in the manner that I have requested - especially considering their claim of a 100% client satisfaction guarantee. They have failed on many fronts, and need to be held accountable. Also, Edwin Peeples created a fake Instagram account to go after my husband's business (the name he created was very similar to my husband's Instagram handle and he claimed he was my husband and said my husband's office "sucks!" He also linked to his website). I have screen shots of all of this that I am happy to provide.