Non-profit threatens to take service dogs from disabled veterans
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Two families of Oklahoma City veterans spoke out Friday after being threatened by a non-profit to take away their service dogs.
"The big threat is that my husband is going to lose his service dog," said the wife of one of the veterans involved.
Both of the families reached out to News 4 but wanted to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.
They claimed that the director of the non-profit Honoring America's Warriors, Scotty Deatherage, has abused their loved ones who are severely disabled veterans.
"I said, you're just taking his service dog because you don't like him and he's like yes," said the wife of the second veteran involved.
"He's a bully. That's exactly the word we use to describe him."
The non-profit stated on it's website that it hands over puppies to veterans who are disabled to train. The veterans then attend several sessions over several months, getting trained by and learning to train the animals into service dogs.
The two dogs are named Kimber and Feyre, by the families. They are sisters and are American Labrador Retrievers.
"He was in love with her immediately," said Kimber's owner. "I don't know what he would do without her. Ever since we've brought her into the family his life has changed."
Feyre's veteran is severely disabled and has had 14 herniated discs along with serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Kimber's veterans is 100% disabled as well with severe PTSD.
Both families said that when the dogs entered their lives, things got better for them.
However, after dozens of sessions, the families said that Deatherage started to bully the veterans.
Videos taken by the veterans and their loved ones during training programs records what seems to be Deatherage saying, "Leave the dog! Get out."
They said at one point Deatherage told Feyre's veteran to bend down and remove the dog's vest. When the veteran couldn't do it, due to 14 herniated discs, they said Deatherage got angry.
He is said to have told the veteran, "Stop the (expletive) violin music about your back because other veterans have it worst."
These two families aren't the only ones to call allegations against the non-profit's director. A decades-long service dog trainer called News 4 and said she experienced similar situations with Deatherage.
The non-profit sent a letter to the families threatening to take them to court if they don't surrender their dog.
"I am contacting you demanding our personal property back. I am attempting to resolve this issue out of court. If this demand is refused, we intend to sue. After multiple attempts in person, by phone call and text have gone unanswered. We are also concerned for the animal's safety and possible abusive situation," read the letter dated September 26th from Honoring America's Warriors Inc.
"There is no abuse or safety issues," said Kimber's family member.
They gave News 4 a veterinarian receipt which showed a healthy dog with no issues physically or otherwise. The receipt shows a date of August 2024.
"We are going to return our animals because they belong to us," said Deatherage.
News 4 spoke to Deatherage Friday about the issue and why he would remove to service animals from severely disabled veterans in the program.
Many times he said he didn't want to go on camera but continued to answer questions.
"They violated the contract that they signed," said Deatherage. "They don't show up for training and they don't meet the obligations then we recover the dog and remove him from the program."
When told that, the families informed News 4 that they missed some training sessions because the disabled veterans have several hospital visits frequently. The families also said they were under the impression the non-profit didn't mind.
Deatherage told News 4 he isn't a veteran but he is "experienced in training service dogs."
"So, when we placed those two dogs, those two couples got together and ever since they've been in cahoots together and they're out of sorts," said Deatherage.
"The worst case scenario is us having to give her [Kimber] up. I just don't know what we would do."
Deatherage said that if the animals aren't returned than they will more than likely file a lawsuit by October 2.
He also told News 4 to reach out to their attorney, Ward Law. News 4 reached out several times Friday afternoon but never heard back.