An animal groomer in Florida allegedly subjected cats and dogs to horrific treatment while the pets were in his care, police said.
According to an affidavit from the Sarasota Police Department, which cited witness testimony, 41-year-old Diana Stevens allegedly starved several valuable pets at a Woof Gang Bakery and Dog Grooming franchise in Sarasota, Florida.
Authorities, citing surveillance footage, said Stevens was heard calling a dog a “piece of sh—.”
“Stevens was bathing a tan golden doodle and the dog was being hard,” authorities wrote in the affidavit. “Steven became angry and punched her with a closed fist several times in the ribs and stomach.”
Authorities said as he punched the innocent dog, he yelled, “fu– you.”
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In another instance, the owner of the grooming salon was seen pulling a dog by its neck.
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“Stevens finally gets the noose around the dog’s neck, tightens it and then pulls the dog through the noose,” police wrote of the footage dated Aug. 16, 2023. “The dog was hanging by its neck. in the air, he hits the dog twice and the dog spins in the air.”
He allegedly pinched the cats and turned them over, and also tied them up.
“Witness #1 stated that tethering a cat can cause the cat to break its neck,” authorities said. “Stevens also handled the dogs out of frustration, and he was aggressive towards them while he was grooming them. Witness #1 stated that some of the customers complained that their dogs were behaving differently when they brought them at home.”
Stevens also bought French bulldog puppies and kept them in unsanitary conditions.
One of the puppies died after being left overnight unattended in a “sink/bathing tub,” police said.
Investigators with the Sarasota Police Department told FOX 13 it was all caught on surveillance camera.
“To press play, rewind, pause and explain in such detail the violence that occurs in this business is difficult for anyone,” said Cynthia McLaughlin with the Sarasota Police Department.
McLaughlin said the five incidents recorded were filmed in just 17 days.
“There’s no way to know how long this has been going on. The 5 incidents we saw on surveillance video were just 17 days last year,” McLaughlin said.
Detectives, using a search warrant, obtained video from the store that showed the abuse. They said the video appears to support allegations that Stevens beat, angered, and threw animals while he was grooming them.
Stevens was arrested on five counts of felony aggravated animal abuse and five counts of felony animal cruelty.
Fox News reached out to Woof Gang Bakery’s corporate offices.
Original article source: Florida dog groomer, allegedly abused cats and dogs, dog punched: police
