A Madison Township Dog Groomer was charged with animal cruelty after a 13-year-old Yorkie died from injuries sustained in her care. Butler County Ohio Sheriff Richard K. Jones charged Andra Edison, 51, with Cruelty to a Companion Animal. Here’s what the Butler County Sheriff’s Office said happened:
Strange Groomer
Tina Brady took her beloved 13-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Lacey, to Andra Edison for grooming in late June. Ms. Edison had recently started her own dog grooming business after the groomer’s she worked for shut down due to COVID-19.
The groomer brought Lacey home after the grooming session. But Lacey was not herself. Her owner noticed that the small dog kept falling over. Lacey also whimpered and couldn’t walk. The pup also held her head towards the ground.
The Injuries
Tina Brady rushed the dog to MedVet for emergency care. The vet’s office discovered the following injuries to the animal:
- Blunt force trauma to the head
- Bruising around neck and shoulders
- Seven broken Ribs
- Lung contusions
Due to the severity of the animal’s injuries, the owner decided the best course of action would be to euthanize Lacey.
Full Body Weight On 4lb Dog
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office Dog Wardens started an investigation into the incident. They determined that dog groomer Andra Edsion used what’s known as a dominance/submission hold to keep the dog still. Edison held the elderly four-pound dog down on a metal grooming table with her full body weight.
The dominance/submission hold is when you force a dog onto its side or back in order to show it that you are dominant and it should submit to you. This method is very controversial and most dog training experts advise against it.
The MedVet veterinarian confirmed that this could be the cause of the broken ribs and other injuries. Investigators believed the neck bruising was probably caused by a leash or chain used to hold the dog still.
Sheriff Jones said, “It’s scary to think you drop your dog off to be groomed and she comes back in such a condition you have to have her euthanized. That’s when we step in to make sure the person responsible faces a judge.”