Brooklyn Raises $23K For Dog Groomers Ransacked During Break-In

BROOKLYN, NY — A local dog care business is giving back after neighbors rallied to help it replace tens of thousands of dollars of stolen equipment.

Animal Loving Care on Court Street has scheduled a day of free grooming services next week as a thank you to the community, who raised more than $23,000 for the business after it was ransacked during a break-in in January.

The robbery, part of a string of break-ins in the area, left ALC's grooming annex without laptops, phones and most of its grooming equipment, which groomers spent their own money buying, according to the business.

“Groomers study and build on their craft for years, and ALC provides us with the most beautiful and welcoming work environment. To have it all taken in the midst of a pandemic was a real blow," groomer Indi Vasquez said.

The break-in came after a tough year for the business, which helped board dogs at their daycare across the street when owners were sick or even hospitalized with COVID-19, owner Adrienne Pruess said.

Pruess opened the grooming space, known as The Spaw, over the summer.

“We’ve been here serving our neighborhood’s dog owners through the entire pandemic...Now we needed those same people to have our back,” Pruess said.

The $23,000 was raised through a GoFundMe in just two weeks.

The money will be enough to replace all of the stolen equipment, its computers and put in a security system.

The day of free grooming will be held on Feb. 15 through the Pup Relief Tour, an event organized by Harlem Doggie Day Spa owner Brian Taylor. The tour offers free professional grooming services to those struggling to care for their pets.

Those who contributed to the GoFundMe will get first dibs on 50 available slots for free grooming at the event, including baths, brush outs, nail clipping, ear cleaning and haircuts, the business said. The services will then open to the public at Pup Relief Tour's website.

Raffles for discounts and other free services, as well as gourmet doggie food truck Woofbowl will also be set up at the event, at 541 Court St.

“We want to do this to show how the people of NYC support each other and how our small businesses give back so much,” Taylor said. “This community relies on and needs Animal Loving Care — they showed that with how much support and love they had for them after they were burglarized. Now we’re ready to keep giving back.”