AG closes sham seizure-dog business

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Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Thursday that his office has shut down a sham “seizure alert dog” business and banned its owner, Jon C. Sabin, from advertising or selling service dogs in the future.

In a submission to the St. Lawrence County Supreme Court, Schneiderman established Sabin and his for-profit business, Seizure Alert Dogs For Life Inc., engaged in deceptive business practices, misleading consumers from New York to California into believing that he was screening and training dogs to assist their disabled children and family members in medical emergencies.

“There was absolutely no evidence whatsoever that this man took any steps to select or train these dogs as he represented,” Schneiderman said. “I will not tolerate scams which take advantage of the disadvantaged and that are abusive to animals.”

St. Lawrence County State Supreme Court Justice David Demarest, in a May 21 decision, issued permanent injunctions forever prohibiting Sabin and Seizure Alert Dogs for Life Inc., from advertising or selling “service dogs” alleged to be trained to respond to or assist persons suffering with epilepsy or other medical conditions. Sabin began selling “service dogs” in 2009.