The owner of a Forsyth County pet grooming business allegedly kicked, dragged and choked a customer’s dog, which later died at an animal hospital, police said.
Michelle Louise Root of Gainesville “bounced (a dog named) Meko off the wall and a tub before slamming him on the table,” according to a Cumming police incident report.
Root, owner of Paw’sh Paws in Cumming, was charged with cruelty to animals after the incident Saturday, police said. She was released from the Forsyth County jail Wednesday on a $5,630 cash bond.
Police learned of the incident when an employee of the business told them. The employee “heard a commotion (at the business) and came out to see what was wrong,” according to the report.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY: Want more stories like this one? Go to www.myajc.com/crime/
She said Meko was running to the back of the store with the grooming lead still around its neck, police said. The employee said Root “yelled at her as she tried to stop Meko, then came to the back of the store, kicked Meko twice knocking Meko into the door, took the lead and choked Meko to the point of unconsciousness.”
The employee said Root “then dragged Meko to the front of the store, banging Meko against the washer and other objects before throwing Meko on the table and attempting to finish Miko’s grooming.”
The employee said the dog was unresponsive at this point and she expressed her concern to another employee, according to the report.
A friend of the dog’s owner who went to pick up Meko said he was told Meko “had a seizure” and he needed to get the dog to the emergency room, according to police.
Know what's really going on with crime and public safety in your metro Atlanta community, including breaking news, trial coverage, trends and the latest on unsolved cases. Sign up for the AJC's crime and safety newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.
In other news:
About the Author
