She Dropped Her Dog Off To Be Groomed. Then She Got A Call That Made Her Break Down.

Pet stores such as PetSmart are supposed to be a one-stop shop for anything and everything you could possibly need for your animal.

Among the many toys, treats, and services the store offers, they also have an in-house groomer. And while taking your dog to the groomer seems safe enough, one family in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, got a heartbreaking call after dropping their pup off for a day of pampering.

Betty Miller dropped off her 12-year-old Bichon pup, Brewster, at a local PetSmart store for a grooming appointment.

Screenshot / WNEP 16

Hours later, the woman received a horrifying call from the store informing her that Brewster had been attacked by another dog at the grooming salon and had been taken to the nearest veterinary emergency center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Screenshot / WNEP 16

After the shocking loss of her furry companion, Miller is furious with how the PetSmart corporation handled the issue and is fighting to see more safety protocols be put in place to avoid tragedies in the future.

Screenshot / WNEP 16

“I felt so guilty the day it happened because we would say to him, ‘You want to go bye-bye?’ and he’d hop in that car, and he didn’t know it was going to be his last ride. It was hard, very, very hard. He’s been with us for 12 years. He was just a great dog,” Miller recalled as she reminisced about her last interaction with Brewster.

Screenshot / WNEP 16

PetSmart has since released a statement regarding the incident, which you can read below:

“We are truly saddened by the loss of Brewster. The health, safety and well-being of the pets in our care is our top priority, and we immediately launched an internal investigation to better understand what led to this tragic accident. We have high standards of care in place and are actively gathering more information to determine any policy or procedural violations. We welcome all dogs, regardless of their breed, into our grooming salons provided they are well-behaved. We will remain in close contact with Brewster’s pet parent as we learn more.”

Watch the video below for more information.

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(via WNEP 16)

It seems to me like this accident was the result of failure to comply with safety guidelines that are likely already in place. We send our love to this family as they grieve their loss.