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Greyt Hearts Service Dogs Inc. is the only Service Dog Organization that is taking advantage of the huge pool of retired Greyhounds.
Reposted from a user (Kelosaurus_rex) on Reddit with permission.
Long but worth it!
When I was first entering the community I was taken advantage of by a "trainer" in Virginia operating as Greyt Hearts Service Dogs, Inc (GHSD).
The so-called selling point behind this organization was that she acquired young retired greyhounds fresh off the track and in 6 months would provide you with a fully trained service dog. I was very naive about service dogs so to me getting a pup out of the racing circuit and into a good home seemed like a great idea.
I purchased a psychiatric service dog for $10,000 in August 2020 and took possession of him in April 2021. During this time I communicated my needs & expectations with his trainer but looking back those were glossed over in her responses. Fezzik was also involved in a car crash - the towed trailer was destroyed and he was in the vehicle doing the towing so he likely experienced some jolting/loud sounds/sharp movements - but I was not made aware until I stumbled across a GFM she set up 2 days after the fact. I was assured Fezzik would be fine and he was happy in his training so I let it go.
Unfortunately, after I got him home and let Fezzik acclimate to his new surroundings, he was unable to perform even basic obedience, never mind the tasks I required. I reached out to GHSD twice for assistance - once was essentially walked through training him to sit and once, when I asked her to provide all the commands he should know, I was ignored. I struggled for 5 months, falling in love with this train wreck of a greyhound, but after an incident in Target that involved having to call my sister out of work, I ultimately needed to return him that August.
I was accused of mishandling and mistreating him, to the point the trainer said Fezzik was unsafe with me with no evidence to support the claim. When she said two individuals from Maine, not affiliated with the training company, would pick him up I said no, she could drive to Massachusetts so I could demonstrate his lack of training. In the end, I gave the two strangers my dog (with witnesses!) and was informed that GHSD would not issue a refund, despite failing to provide the "fully trained psychiatric service dog" I contracted for.
It soon became clear that legal actions would need to be taken to recoup at least some of the money I invested in Fezzik - I couldn't afford another SD without a reimbursement. By October 2021 I filed a $7,000 suit with MA Small Claims and the case was heard in March 2022. After presenting evidence to the love/care and witnesses to the inability to task from day 1, judgment was found in my favor and a payment hearing was set for May 4. GHSD failed to present at the payment hearing so then it was up to me to figure out how to get my settlement over state lines. After speaking to county court in Virginia I knew my next steps and issued one final letter to request payment from GHSD in May 2022, including notification that I would seek judgment in Virginia.
Shortly after this letter was sent, I received payment of the settlement in full from GHSD but it was a lot of chasing pavement.
Please please please avoid this organization at all costs. When their product fails to live up to the needs of the consumer, they belittle and gaslight you. The entire process made me really think twice about trying again with a different route (I am very hands-on with Gustav's training). I ended up having a breakdown that nearly hospitalized me due to the way I had to surrender Fezzik - ironic as he was supposed to help mitigate that!
TL;DR - Greyt Hearts Service Dogs Inc is not a good trainer.
Long but worth it!
When I was first entering the community I was taken advantage of by a "trainer" in Virginia operating as Greyt Hearts Service Dogs, Inc (GHSD).
The so-called selling point behind this organization was that she acquired young retired greyhounds fresh off the track and in 6 months would provide you with a fully trained service dog. I was very naive about service dogs so to me getting a pup out of the racing circuit and into a good home seemed like a great idea.
I purchased a psychiatric service dog for $10,000 in August 2020 and took possession of him in April 2021. During this time I communicated my needs & expectations with his trainer but looking back those were glossed over in her responses. Fezzik was also involved in a car crash - the towed trailer was destroyed and he was in the vehicle doing the towing so he likely experienced some jolting/loud sounds/sharp movements - but I was not made aware until I stumbled across a GFM she set up 2 days after the fact. I was assured Fezzik would be fine and he was happy in his training so I let it go.
Unfortunately, after I got him home and let Fezzik acclimate to his new surroundings, he was unable to perform even basic obedience, never mind the tasks I required. I reached out to GHSD twice for assistance - once was essentially walked through training him to sit and once, when I asked her to provide all the commands he should know, I was ignored. I struggled for 5 months, falling in love with this train wreck of a greyhound, but after an incident in Target that involved having to call my sister out of work, I ultimately needed to return him that August.
I was accused of mishandling and mistreating him, to the point the trainer said Fezzik was unsafe with me with no evidence to support the claim. When she said two individuals from Maine, not affiliated with the training company, would pick him up I said no, she could drive to Massachusetts so I could demonstrate his lack of training. In the end, I gave the two strangers my dog (with witnesses!) and was informed that GHSD would not issue a refund, despite failing to provide the "fully trained psychiatric service dog" I contracted for.
It soon became clear that legal actions would need to be taken to recoup at least some of the money I invested in Fezzik - I couldn't afford another SD without a reimbursement. By October 2021 I filed a $7,000 suit with MA Small Claims and the case was heard in March 2022. After presenting evidence to the love/care and witnesses to the inability to task from day 1, judgment was found in my favor and a payment hearing was set for May 4. GHSD failed to present at the payment hearing so then it was up to me to figure out how to get my settlement over state lines. After speaking to county court in Virginia I knew my next steps and issued one final letter to request payment from GHSD in May 2022, including notification that I would seek judgment in Virginia.
Shortly after this letter was sent, I received payment of the settlement in full from GHSD but it was a lot of chasing pavement.
Please please please avoid this organization at all costs. When their product fails to live up to the needs of the consumer, they belittle and gaslight you. The entire process made me really think twice about trying again with a different route (I am very hands-on with Gustav's training). I ended up having a breakdown that nearly hospitalized me due to the way I had to surrender Fezzik - ironic as he was supposed to help mitigate that!
TL;DR - Greyt Hearts Service Dogs Inc is not a good trainer.
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