Local nonprofit warns of scams, training gaps and attacks on service dogs; urges public education and enforcement

A representative from Service Dog Nation told the City of El Paso Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Jan. 16 that veterans seeking service dogs face long waits, high costs and widespread misinformation — and she urged coordinated public education and enforcement.

The presenter, identified in the meeting as the founder and president of Service Dog Nation, said many traditional service-dog programs carry long waiting lists or require expensive training (she cited program costs that can reach $60,000) and that prospective handlers often are unaware they may train or owner-train dogs themselves with proper temperament testing and training. She described three pathways: program-supplied dogs, owner-trained dogs, and owner-trained with professional consultation.

The presenter highlighted local incidents in which service-dog handlers were wrongly asked for registration or certification cards, which she called a "scam," and recounted episodes in which handlers’ dogs were attacked. She said that misrepresenting a service dog can carry penalties under Texas law—citing "House Bill 4164," which she said (as discussed in the meeting) took effect on Sept. 1 "the year before last" and allows fines and community service for misrepresentation. "Registration and certification is a scam," she told the committee.

She urged the committee and city partners to educate the public and private venue operators about ADA rules — which do not require vaccination records or registration for service animals at point of entry — and to clarify local ordinances that require vaccination records so they do not conflict with federal law in access situations. She described ongoing outreach to large local venues and event operators, noting she has attempted to correct posted policies at El Paso Live that request "certified" service animals.

The presenter also recommended local coordination among mental-health providers, trainers and nonprofits to develop accessible training pathways and to provide a list of basic temperament and canine good-citizenship tests as entry steps for handlers. She said local organizations such as Barker House will perform temperament testing for free and that basic obedience and a 10-item good-citizenship test are useful benchmarks before task training.

Committee members asked practical questions about temperament and vaccination rules; the presenter recommended the canine good citizenship test and local resources and said she would provide reputable training resources on request. Her nonprofit is registered with the State of Texas and is pursuing federal tax-exempt status, she said.

No formal committee action resulted; the presenter requested partnership and public-education support from the committee and city staff.