Complaint Review: Elizabeth Hess - Odyssey K9 Grapevine / Brad Whitley - Grapevine Texas

I found Elizabeth Hess from Odyssey K9 through bark.com while looking for a dog trainer for my cane corso puppy. We spoke on the phone and she told me it was $3,200 for two weeks of training (basic obedience). She insisted that I pay the deposit that day and she needed the payment immediately. I wanted to make sure I secured the date so I sent her money via Zelle and Venmo. She explained that they would send me video updates and General progress updates every 2-3 days. She also said that they are available 24/7. We set up a date for drop off. She then changed the drop off date the day of. Then we rescheduled the drop off and when I brought her I thought Elizabeth would show me inside but she didn’t so I thought that was weird but I could also see that maybe it was to make a less emotional drop off. I barely got any video or photo updates and I started to get worried and suspicious.

Elizabeth also asked me for money for more food so I sent her money that day. She then asked me if I wanted to extend the training to 6 weeks for $8k for the advanced training. I told her that I could not make a decision like that bc I still had no idea what she learned at training because she barely sent me any videos. So she did not seem thrilled that I declined the extra $8k training. We scheduled a pick up date and then she canceled it day of and blamed the weather. I was not happy bc she canceled one hour before the scheduled pick up time and I think this is very weird. I started texting her some investigative questions to get an idea of what was actually going on. I was getting suspicious as to why they were trying to keep my dog for longer. When I asked the questions and called her out for not sending me photos she had her "husband” Brad Whitley Call me to intimidate me. He yelled at me and accused me of being overly emotional and told me that I’m the one with issues. He then told me he was on "deployment for the military” and he just got back. We went back and forth for a while and we decided to reschedule our pick up.

The next pick up date comes and again she asks to reschedule and blames the "weather”. So now I’m really freaking out and I start doing research to find out that Brad whitley has criminal charges for theft and kidnapping. I was freaking out that my dog was stolen or worse, dead. So we schedule a third pick up date. She again cancels and I end up texting her that will be at her residence to pick up my dog in 30 min. So I get a call from Brad Whitley and he is cussing at me and screaming at me and gaslighting me and then tells me I have 30 mins to get my dog or else. He was unhinged. Brad said that they would refund me and that they don’t want anything to do with me again. I show up to get my dog and she is extremely thin and looks terrified. Her nails were grown out and paws were all tense from stress or fear. She had skin infection all on her belly and her neck. I took her to the vet immediately- she weighed less than when I dropped her off and she was so dehydrated. I have the vet report.

So I follow up about my refund bc it is obvious my dog was not trained and it was clear my dog was extremely neglected. I was told I would get my refund in 30 business days. I started researching and finding out that Elizabeth and Brad have scammed dozens of people out of money. They continue to promise the refund and then claim that the banks are frozen or a myriad of other excuses.