Empire State K-9 Training, LLC

I signed a contract with Richard "Rick" Satch Sanders of Empire State K9 Training, now known as Empire State Services, on December 10, 2019 to contract for training for a medical service dog for my neurological disability. The contract stipulated training would be done at my home in Maine, 5 trips, each trip a two night stay with several hours of training per day. I was unable to travel due to illness, hence the need for a trainer to come to me. We paid a $2500 up front after the sales pitch, another $1000 within a month and made a verbal agreement to pay the last installment after the first training session was completed in my home. Unfortunately, this never happened. All calls, texts and emails and request to schedule training went largely unresponded to or we were given false promises. We stood by while Covid happened and tried to resume in the aftermath....again, empty promises to schedule and to come to Maine. Fast forward a full 2.5 years into a contract we signed in good faith for neurological medical service dog training and nothing is getting answered. Two and a half years is a long time in the life of a dog and we began to do our own training and the need for Rick's services had long passed their need. We asked for a reimbursement. He refused. We contacted the Atty General who plead our case, an attorney sent a letter and we have made multiple attempts for resolution and are met with refusal or simply no answer. Last month, now February 2023 , my husband reached out one last time in an attempt to reach some kind of agreement. To our absolute amazement, Rick asked us to release him from his contract and all terms and to write a letter to him saying we would owe him nothing! Talk about being Gobsmacked!!! It is his contract, his terms which he is in breach of in every way and he wants us to release him and write a letter saying he owes us nothing!! This is appalling and it is my opinion that Rick and his daughter Rikki, entered into and collected on a contract that they never had any intention of fulfilling. It is my opinion that is a company of frauds and thieves and I have all documentation, contract, letters, texts, attorney and Attorney General letters to prove it. In addition, Rick now is making up lies stating my legitimate service dog is viscious and that is why he defaulted. I have hundreds of photos of my dog tasking at Drs offices, Supermarkets, restaurants, with children, people and other dogs of all sizes around. This is just another lie that he is telling and a fake excuse to get out of his contractual responsibility. If he didn't want to come all the way to Maine if the first place, he shouldn't have taken $3,500 from us over three years ago. I encourage you all to take a hard look at who he really is, his business ethic and reach out if you want to see the documentation of proof. I highly do not recommend him and this business. He cost me valuable time being held to a contract which prevented me from seeing other trainers and then stiffed us when I was completely bedridden, neurologically disabled, and wrought with convulsions and seizure like episodes. He knew and and saw this in person and still stole from us. What kind of person does this?? An evil one, in my opinion. This is my personal experience and it is still unresolved as of today, March 12, 2023. BEWARE More...

This is the 2nd time we have used Empire State K-9 Training, LLC. First time 5 years ago - and our dog retained all of his training over the years. Now, we have a 4 month old GS puppy and have also had him trained by Rick and staff. They love your dog as their own and train him exactly as discussed during the intake meeting. Our puppy is now on his way to becoming our next service dog. Thank you Rick Sanders and team! Well worth the 5 hour drive to have our Raider trained properly. Highly recommended. More...

I have been attending Empire State K-9 dog training classes for a long time. They really helped me when i adopted my dog. Rick is a great trainer and goes the extra mile to help and support you . All of the support trainers are also extremely helpful and knowledgeable. More...