Disturbing footage has emerged of a dog groomer abusing a small dog at work, with the RSPCA calling it a breach of trust.
The 31-year-old woman was charged with an act of cruelty against a Maltese Shih tzu named Luffy in September 2021.
CCTV shows the woman slapping the dog on the head and lifting him off the table by his ears on multiple occasions.
As the appointment continues, the groomer becomes increasingly agitated with the dog, throwing him down with force and holding him down with her body weight.
Luffy can be heard barking and trying to escape the woman’s grasp, which only encourages her to use my force.
At one stage, the woman carries him off the table by his lead, letting it tighten around his neck, as she walks him over to his cage and throws him in.
When the owner received Luffy back, she claims he was shaky on his feet and his face covered in blood from an eye injury.
Western Australia RSPCA inspector manager Kylie Green said the offence was a breach of trust because dogs cannot tell you how their appointment went.
“Pet owners have faith the person they’re paying to groom their dog will act professionally, treating their dog with kindness and care,” she said.
“Your dog can’t come home and tell you how their appointment was so you have to trust the groomer has done the right thing.
“Watching the CCTV video, you can see Luffy was terrified.”
Ms Green said there was “no excuse for her to lash out and hurt a defenceless animal”.
The woman was convicted after she was found to have been cruel to an animal that was in her care during a dog grooming session by ill-treating him and restraining him in a manner likely to cause unnecessary harm.
The offender lost her job at the business and was required to complete an online grooming behaviour course.
She was fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $5,000 in costs.
The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au.