PetSmart Employees Dropped Dead Dog At Vet And Left, Owner Says

Scruffles the dog went for a grooming at the Flemington PetSmart on Dec. 29.

She never came home.

The dog's owner, Lambertville resident Danielle DiNapoli, said she brought her healthy 8-year-old bulldog to the store that Friday at about 9:45 a.m.

She had been there before without incident. But this time, things would not end well.

DiNapoli got a phone call at 10:35 a.m. informing her that Scruffles was at Flemington Veterinary Hospital. She raced there to find her dog dead. Scruffles, the veterinarian told DiNapoli, was dead upon arrival. They attempted CPR without success.

It is not known how long Scruffles had been deceased when she was left there.

DiNapoli said no one from PetSmart was at the vet hospital when she arrived. When her husband called PetSmart, he was only told the matter is under investigation. The family has been unable to speak with the groomer about their dog's condition prior to her death, and they say they have received scant details from PetSmart corporate representatives, who they say refuse to provide a written report summarizing the investigation.

Erin Gray, PetSmart senior corporate communications manager, said upon the dog's death, PetSmart immediately conducted a comprehensive internal investigation, which found the associates involved followed "all policies and procedures."

Gray noted the necropsy report is outstanding at this time. "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Scruffles’ family, and we continue to be in contact with them during this difficult time," Gray said.

But DiNapoli said PetSmart has changed its story about the events that morning several times, and is not providing the family with the information it seeks. She does know the dog's condition worsened during the drying process, but that is about it.

The NJSPCA is investigating the incident, which has prompted DiNapoli to launch the Justice For Scruffles Facebook page. On the page, pet owners with similar experiences at PetSmart are coming forward, including one family whose dog also died after a recent grooming at the same PetSmart.

Tara Fiet, on the Justice for Scruffles Facebook page, said her dog Ranger went to the Petsmart in Flemington Dec. 22 for a grooming. "We normally would not take him to PetSmart but our regular place was booked up," she wrote.

Fiet wrote that Ranger came home "very lethargic." She assumed it was because he was tired from the holiday excitement and his grooming. The dog died suddenly and unexpectedly two days later, on Christmas Eve. "He had no previous health issues and had just been to the vet two months earlier," she wrote.

In a follow up message to Patch, Fiet said PetSmart told her the dog was fine when he was there.

"It's too late for me to get justice for Ranger as he's already been cremated but sharing Scruffles story and bringing attention to this horrible place will hopefully help others out there and bring this animal cruelty to an end," Fiet wrote on the Justice for Scruffles page.

Another New Jersey resident, who says her dog died six years ago after being groomed at PetSmart, has been working to change the law to protect dogs. Bijou's Bill, named after Rosemary Marchetto's ‎pet, would require all pet groomers to be licensed. Marchetto has been active on the Justice For Scruffles page. She did not immediately return a request for comment from Patch about the status of the bill. This post will be updated if and when we hear back.

DiNapoli said she's not only saddened about her dog's untimely death, but frustrated about the lack of information being shared with her family about the circumstances.

"They don’t have their facts straight," she said, noting they won't say what may have caused the dog's death and continue to refuse to provide a written report. "The story keeps changing. We have no closure because PetSmart isn’t allowing us to have closure."

DiNapoli is calling for a boycott of PetSmart.

"The devastation and the loss is shocking," she said.

PHOTO: Scruffles, used with permission