Notorious Dog “Trainer” Pleads Guilty to 150-Plus Charges of Animal Cruelty and Theft · Kinship Leave a comment

Final yr, Jason Jones, the proprietor of Dayton Canine Coach, was indicted after stories surfaced of acts of animal cruelty and theft; Jones reportedly cost hundreds of {dollars} for coaching companies he didn’t carry out, and canines would typically return to their properties damage, terrified, and malnourished. This week, Jones pled responsible to over 150-plus expenses of theft and animal cruelty, bringing the affected canine dad and mom one step nearer to justice for themselves and their pups.

Throughout final yr’s investigation, the Miamisburg PD discovered that 65 totally different individuals had been charged a mixed complete of $200,000, reported 2 Information. After Jones’s expenses grew to become public, extra individuals got here ahead, and authorities recognized a complete of 133 totally different victims. Altogether, Jones is accused of taking $370,000.

The costs in opposition to Jones

Jones pled responsible to scamming his victims out of hundreds of {dollars} for coaching companies; his prison expenses embody theft from the aged or disabled. He carried out the coaching on his personal property. As a substitute of returning dwelling well-trained, the canines would present indicators of neglect and malnourishment, with their conduct typically worse than earlier than they encountered Jones. Some confirmed indicators of trauma, together with mistrust of individuals, shaking, and hiding.

One one that had handed over their canine to Jones informed WHIO that their pup got here again malnourished. “He’d misplaced a superb 15, nearly 20 kilos,” she stated. One other informed Dayton Each day Information that he had visited Jones’s property and located his canine staked in a discipline with a rash; others had their canines returned to them lined in feces and filth with patches of lacking hair.

“The tales we now have heard from victims are maddening and sometimes heartbreaking. The defendant failed to coach the canines, and so they had been typically returned to the homeowners injured, uncared for, and steadily worse within the behaviors the defendant stated he might deal with,” Prosecuting Lawyer Mat Heck  stated in a press release. “This defendant ought to by no means be allowed to be in the identical room as a canine.”

Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14. He’s dealing with hundreds of {dollars} in fines, in addition to potential time in jail.

Easy methods to discover a canine coach you’ll be able to belief

Jones’s case highlights the significance of totally researching trainers earlier than putting canines into their care. One option to begin a coach search is by asking for suggestions; you’ll be able to attain out to mates who’ve employed trainers, native shelters, and even your veterinarian. When you’ve discovered a coach, you must also ask them for references.

Canine coach Melissa Dallier advises in search of out trainers with sure credentials; CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, CTC, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, and VSA-CDT are all certifications she recommends in search of.

However even when a coach is licensed, Dallier provides that you must ask your coach questions and look out for pink flags. Questions you’ll be able to ask embody:

• “What methodology of coaching do you employ?”

• “What tools will you employ on/with my canine?”

• “What occurs if my canine makes a mistake?”

Search for a coach who makes use of constructive reinforcement strategies and does not use damaging instruments, together with choke collars and shock collars. Dallier provides that pink flags to search for embody promising fast adjustments and ensures, utilizing language like “alpha” or “dominance,” or specializing in punishment. She notes looking their social media might offer you additional perception into their strategies.

If any of their behaviors or solutions depart you feeling uneasy, Dallier recommends trying elsewhere. It’s not value risking your canine’s security.