Families complain about nonprofit that sold service dogs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sobie Cummings, 11, of Waxhaw has autism. Her mother, Rachel Cummings, told Action 9 her daughter has a lot of anxiety.

[Dozens of families file complaints about service dog company]

"Off the charts,” Rachel Cummings said. “I've honestly never seen anything like it before, and it wasn't her fault at all.”

Sobie Cummings's parents thought a service dog might help.

"There's just so many ways that the dog can come in and help fills those gaps that the disability manifests," Rachel Cummings said. "This was going to be her chance at a different life for herself. This was going to be her salvation."

They went with a nonprofit group near Raleigh, Ry-Con, and said they paid $13,900 for the dog.

They chose a dog for Sobie and named her Okami, which is Japanese for "wolf."

Cummings said the dog attacked one of their other dogs when they brought Okami home.

"The aggression continued -- banging on the doors, growling,” Rachel Cummings said. "There was actual foaming at the mouth, haunches raised on two feet, like a bear."

The dog nipped Sobie Cummings, too, the mother said.

“This matters and it should matter to everyone. It should matter to everyone,” Rachel Cummings said.

Eventually, Rachel Cummings said they gave the dog back to Ry-Con and asked for a refund but never got one.

Now, they're suing Ry-Con for the money.

Jeramy Morris, 9, of Kings Mountain, had two brain surgeries, several strokes is partially blind and can't speak, his father, Jerry Morris, said.

Jerry Morris said he set up a payment plan with Ry-Con and paid more than $8,000 of the total price -- $13,900.

Jerry Morris said the deal fell through and he never got the dog or any of his money back. He feels he let his son down.

"I'm the one who's supposed to protect him and keep things like this from happening, and I let it happen.  And I'm the one who walked right into it, and I should have been a little bit brighter on that fact," Jerry Morris said.

Those two families aren't alone. Nearly 50 families across the country have filed complaints with N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein. Those complaints fall into two categories: money issues and dog issues.  The ones about the dogs claim the animals weren't housebroken or were aggressive around the children.

Stein told Action 9 his office is officially investigating Ry-Con.

"I completely understand the desire to make a big investment to try to help your child because nothing is more important than someone’s child,” Stein said. “But what you don’t want to have happen is to mortgage your home, spend $13,000 and the animal isn’t like it was represented it would do."

Action 9 tried calling and emailing Ry-Con's owner multiple times since last week but hadn't heard back by noon Thursday.

Action 9 got a copy of a letter the owner sent Stein's office.

He said Ry-Con was successful for many years but ran into increased costs and social media attacks, and it had to close down.

Cox Media Group