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Groomer Kicks Dog, Breaks Its Ribs — Police Charge Groomer With Neglect

By Georgia Makitalo
Published on: 23:24 PST, Jul 30, 2016

The unthinkable occurred on July 9 when Jasper the corgi was kicked and seriously injured by his groomer, which resulted in seriously painful lung tissue damage and multiple rib fractures! The horrified owners had to take their seriously injured pet to an emergency clinic to heal and recover for several days-all because they trusted this facility to care for their beloved pet.

When the unidentified dog owners brought their beloved pet Jasper to Creature Comfort Veterinary Center in Iowa City, they had expected to pick up a cleaner, more manicured version of their pet. Instead, when they left the facility, Jasper was not his normal happy, spunky self. With ears down, the little dog was slow to walk to the car. Instead of energetically jumping into the car as he normally would, Jasper refused to jump. When they tried to pick up their precious pet to put into the vehicle, it was then that the owners realized that something was horrifically wrong.

Absolutely shocked, the owners promptly took their seriously injured pet to an emergency animal clinic. Here, Jasper spent many days and nights under strict observation by the caring veterinarians. At the emergency clinic, the normally perky little dog was diagnosed with multiple fractured ribs, bruised lungs, and subcutaneous emphysema. Although the owners did not state where they took Jasper for emergency services, it was clear that they were not going to return back to the veterinary facility, as the trust was surely broken.

According to the police report, the groomer, Lucas Van Orden V, confessed to kicking the adorable little dog while he was grooming him, seriously breaking the dog’s ribs and bruising his lungs. Corgis are very small dogs, with famously short legs, so it could be safely assumed that the groomer kicked the dog while he was on the ground, not on the grooming table or in the sink. No details were given as to when in the grooming process the dog was so cruelly abused by the 22-year-old groomer.

What is also both uncomfortable and upsetting is that local Iowa City station KCRG-TV9 reported that the groomer is the son of the practice manager, Lucas Van Orden IV. The father, acting as manager, issued an official statement regarding the incident. Here, they relay that the groomer has been fired. This statement also confirms that there was injurious actions made towards the animal during the grooming process, and the groomer was cited for animal neglect by the City of Iowa City.

“The owners and management of Creature Comfort Veterinary Center are aware of an animal injury during grooming, and subsequent citation for animal neglect issued by the City of Iowa City against the groomer. Any animal injury is of paramount concern, and is not tolerated in any respect. Immediately upon learning of this incident, the groomer was discharged from his employment.”

Although this horrific incident occurred early in July, it was not until Thursday that police arrested Van Orden. Police charged him with a simple misdemeanor, for animal neglect, as well as issue a police citation. The groomer is scheduled to appear in 6th Judicial District Court on August 25, facing $625 in fines and up to 30 days in jail.

As for Jasper the corgi, the owners, via Reddit, advised that he will need four to six weeks to recuperate. There has been no indication if the Creature Comfort Veterinary Center will be paying for these expensive veterinarian bills and/or providing any other monetary compensation.

What are your thoughts about Jasper the corgi’s abuse by his groomer? Do you think that he should get the full 30 days in jail, or should there be a different punishment?

[Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images]

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