EXCLUSIVE: PetSmart Employee Faces Animal Cruelty Allegations

PetSmart Employee Faces Animal Cruelty Allegations (Added: February 05, 2009)

EXCLUSIVE: It?s a story you will only see here on WJBF News Channel 6. There are some serious animal cruelty allegations for one employee of Augusta Exchange?s PetSmart. The allegations are towar ... (more)

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EXCLUSIVE: PetSmart Employee Faces Animal Cruelty Allegations

EXCLUSIVE: It’s a story you will only see here on WJBF News Channel 6. There are some serious animal cruelty allegations for one employee of Augusta Exchange’s PetSmart. The allegations are towards Justin Monbarren, who's a groomer at the store. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has all the details.

By Barclay Bishop
Published: February 05, 2009

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Augusta, GA -- The alleged incident happened on December 20th...the Cupid’s dropped off their dog to be groomed, but when they picked Alex up, they immediately rushed him to an animal hospital.

Weighing in at a little more than 5 pounds, this Pomeranian's owners say he wouldn't hurt a fly, and can't understand how anyone may have been able to hurt Alex.

Calvin Cupid, Alex's owner: “I just took him to get a wash and a cut, you know, expecting him to come back regular, and I get him and find out that he could go blind.”

When Calvin Cupid and his wife picked Alex up from PetSmart, they say this is what he looked like:

Calvin Cupid: “I looked at him, and when I looked at his eyes, they were swollen and puffy looking, and like blood vessels were poking out of his eyes.” They immediately took Alex to the vet.

Calvin Cupid: “The vet told me that the only way that that could have happened was basically from strangulation.”

That's when Augusta Animal Services investigators launched their own investigation...and say a witness told them everything he saw, that day.

Investigator Bruce McClure, Augusta Animal Services: “When he turned around, he observed the suspect taking what they call the grooming noose, or the grooming loop, and tightening, it in his opinion, too tight, and that the animal was then picked up by that loop and transported in the air to a kennel, and placed in that kennel.”

Although the investigation is still ongoing, the Cupid's have a message for all pet owners:

Calvin Cupid: “I'm sure there could be more people that have had that happen to their animal. Just be careful, choose the right place to take your animal.”

Fortunately, Alex is recovering just fine.

We called PetSmart to see if the employee was still working, but they wouldn't comment. Instead their corporate office sent us this statement:

“We take this issue seriously and are conducting a full investigation into the allegations made against our groomer. Our store in Augusta, Ga has a strong record for excellent pet care and we will continue to make pet safety our number one priority.”

According to Augusta Animal Control, this is the first time that they've had any problems of this type with PetSmart. Monbarren's court date is February 19, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.

To view a story about new allegations, click here.