FORT LAUDERDALE — A Fort Lauderdale man says his 5-year-old dog suffered a deep, painful wound during a mobile grooming appointment last month, prompting both a veterinary emergency and a police report.
However, the grooming company denied that the incident occurred during the appointment.
Russ Horowitz said he typically grooms his 15-pound Yorkie-poo, Charlie, himself. But a discount offer led him to schedule an appointment with Sassy’s Mobile Pet Grooming on Oct. 14.
“When he brought Charlie out, he was noticeably shaking and scared,” Horowitz said. “He was trying to hide from me like behind me when I was paying, he didn’t want to get anywhere near the guy who did the grooming.”
Horowitz said he didn’t immediately notice anything unusual. But about an hour later, he saw what he described as a severe injury on the dog’s lower abdomen.
“It wasn’t until about an hour later that I noticed a huge laceration on him, it was on his lower stomach, the skin was wide open, probably the size of a quarter and I could basically see his insides, I could see burnt flesh because they cauterized him in the truck without my knowledge,” he said.
Horowitz said he contacted the company and sent photos of the wound. The groomer told him “he never cut the dog.”
“Right away I was furious about this, I was really scared for him, I was mad that they weren’t taking responsibility for it, nobody in their right mind would bring their dog to a groomer with a giant hole in their stomach,” Horowitz said.
Horowitz rushed Charlie to Victoria Park Animal Hospital, where veterinarians confirmed the dog had a deep laceration that they believed was likely caused by a grooming tool.
Veterinary staff also noted that silver nitrate appeared to have been applied, causing discoloration of the wound.
The dog required stitches, antibiotics and pain medication. Horowitz said the veterinary bill came to more than $700.
“You guys cauterized him in the truck, according to the vet. How could you burn my dog in the truck without my permission and then hide it from me and not say anything to me afterwards?” he said.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Animal Crimes Unit was contacted regarding a possible case of animal cruelty.
Horowitz told investigators that the groomer did not notify him of any injury and did not seek permission before allegedly treating the wound.
Records and photos reviewed by Local 10 show multiple grooming vans — including those branded as Tiger’s Pet Grooming, Cinderella’s Pet Grooming and Isabella’s Pet Grooming — all linked by the same phone number.
Horowitz said the van that arrived at his home did not display the Sassy’s name he believed he booked.
“He could have bled out, he could have gotten infected, he could have died,” Horowitz said.
Text messages show the groomer told Horowitz to take Charlie to a veterinarian in Hialeah the following day.
By then, Charlie was already being treated at an emergency clinic. The dog later required additional care when stitches had to be replaced with staples.
“They showed no remorse, took no responsibility, they also said I signed a contract and so if you want to, go ahead and sue but we’re not going to cover any of it,” Horowitz said.
When contacted by phone, the business owner maintained that Charlie already had the laceration before the grooming appointment and said Horowitz should have taken the dog to the veterinarian she recommended.
“I would just be very cautious with who you leave your pet with,” Horowitz added.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
