North Carolina Pet Groomer Charged After Video Shows Her Abusing Dogs at Work [Video]

A North Carolina pet groomer is under fire after disturbing video allegedly caught her striking dogs during grooming sessions—and now she’s facing four felony charges.

Kirsten Taylor, 28, was arrested by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office on July 23, after officials reviewed video footage that reportedly shows her repeatedly hitting and aggressively handling dogs at Classy Critters, a pet grooming salon.

The case came to light after a co-worker at the grooming shop turned over the footage to Animal Services on July 18. The content was serious enough that a formal investigation kicked off by July 21.

According to Sheriff Darren Campbell, investigators verified that the dogs in the video were clients’ pets, dropped off by their owners for routine grooming. But what they received in return was anything but routine.

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Deputies say the evidence shows at least four different dogs were subjected to similar abusive treatment. Taylor was formally charged with four counts of felony animal abuse.

“This case highlights how important it is for agencies to work together,” Sheriff Campbell said. He also clarified that Animal Control and the Sheriff’s Office are separate departments, which can affect how quickly cases like these are processed.

Anyone with more information about Taylor’s conduct or any other incidents at Classy Critters is encouraged to contact the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at 704-878-3180.