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Colorado K-9 Trainer With Questionable Credentials Opens New Shop

PARKER, Colo. (CBS4) - "Military Owned and Operated" is the claim from a K-9 trainer in Parker, but CBS4 took a deeper look and his history as Marine Corps veteran did not pan out.

Kristi
Kristi (credit: CBS)

"It was right in this room actually and he was standing in front of this television and she was just laying by him and he pounced at her and kicked her in the head," Kristi said.

Kristi asked CBS4 not to use her last name. She says the incident happened to her dog Anna during a training session with Justin Paisley.

Justin Paisley
Justin Paisley (credit: CBS)

At the time, he was running Elite K9 Dynamics in Parker, claiming to have years of experience from his more than 20 years of experience as a marine K9 handler.

"He was dressed in nothing but his dog tags and military sweatshirt and Marine sweatshirt and his car was all decked out in a Purple Heart sticker and military valor, everything military," Kristi said.

Anna
(credit: CBS)

Kristi paid Paisley for six sessions but halfway through she got a text message saying he was in the hospital and it was unclear when or if he would ever be in stable condition.

Around the same time in late October, CBS4 began questioning Paisley's credentials. Using a birthdate found on public records associated with his business, we checked for a military background and found nothing.

There was however, a lengthy rap sheet and mug shot from Paisley's time in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Justin Paisley
(credit: CBS)

"It came to light, I knew I didn't have a good feeling and it's true he is a fraud and a con artist and a thief," she said.

She was not the only one with a story. Dozens of his former clients shared their own stories of questionable training and money lost, many of which Parker police are now investigating.

"This is a game to him, he has no remorse," Kristi said.

CBS4 has now learned he is operating in Aurora under the name Paw Print K9 Training.

We called the number for that company, it rang directly back to Paisleys old business. When he returned our call, he claimed to have never heard of Paw Print K9 Training and could not explain why his photo was on the new company's Facebook page.

We also asked for proof of his military service.

"Are you military?" CBS4 reporter Karen Morfitt asked Paisley.

"You seem to know," he responded.

Paisley never answered that question.

"I'm not giving you any information Karen," Paisley said.

"And why would you not do that if you want to clear your name?" Morfitt responded.

"I've done nothing wrong," he said.

His former clients disagree.

"Do your research, trust your gut and definitely steer clear of him," Kristi said.

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