After viral post, police say no signs Whitman groomer caused dog’s death
After a Facebook post claiming a local pet grooming service’s treatment of a dog named Bailey resulted in his death went viral this weekend, Whitman police, along with animal control, inspected the groomer and reviewed video footage. On Wednesday, police said in a Facebook post “there is no indication that K-9 Groomers acted negligently or recklessly in their treatment of Bailey.”
The McNeil family, of Holbrook, brought their dog to K-9 Groomers in Whitman on Friday morning. Three hours later, the 7-year-old bernese mountain dog stopped breathing due to what owner Cheryl Hersey McNeil said was heatstroke in a Facebook post, which has been shared over 13,000 times. In the post, McNeil blames the groomer for Bailey’s condition and tells other pet owners to avoid the business.
At an animal hospital, Bailey was found to have a temperature of at least 108 degrees and was experiencing seizures, as well as other medical ailments, according to McNeil and police. The McNeils ultimately decided to put down Bailey because of his condition.
After reviewing video footage, police said they discovered the dog was kept in a climate controlled room with a cool fan pointing at him for about 15 minutes. When a worker took Bailey out of his cage to be groomed, police said the dog laid down on the floor. The worker then brought Bailey water, which he did not drink. After that, the groomer rushed Bailey to Whitman Animal Hospital after his breathing became labored, according to police.
Police said Bailey never had complete blood work, so it’s unknown whether he was suffering from another medical condition like heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes that could have ultimately led to his death. McNeil described him as the “healthiest, happiest dog in the world” in her post.
After detailing the investigation, police called the “rush to judgement and attacks” directed at K-9 Groomers “very disturbing”:
Though proving an underlying issue with Bailey prior to going to the groomer is still uncertain there has been no indication of abuse or neglect by K-9 Groomers both during inspection and while observing the video footage. Further, we have not received any complaints about K-9 Groomers in the past.
Based on all of the above information there is no indication that K-9 Groomers acted negligently or recklessly in their treatment of Bailey. The rush to judgement and attacks directed at K-9 Groomers through social media as well as phone calls to the business is very disturbing. They have even received death threats as a result of Bailey’s death.
Bailey’s death has been very tragic and traumatic for the McNeil family. On behalf of the Whitman Police Department we send our heartfelt sympathies to the McNeil family for the loss of their beloved pet dog Bailey.
https://www.facebook.com/WhitmanPolice/posts/1030200427065731
Prior to the police department’s statement, K-9 Groomers owner Bob Lane told the Brockton Enterprise that Bailey was kept in a cool room and that he and part-time owner Jennifer Balas feel terrible about what happened to the dog.
“I don’t think we’ll have to close down,” Lane told the Enterprise. “I just wish people would hear the whole story.”
Lane and Balas, along with McNeil, did not return requests for comment.
Read McNeil’s viral Facebook post below.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1574312566200193&id=100008643942689
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