- Michigan, USA -
~ Update: April 21, 2022
45-years-old MICHAEL RYAN PICKARD (pictured), a pet groomer accused of roughing up a dog during a grooming appointment, pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge.
On Tuesday, April 19, PICKARD was sentenced to six months of probation, forty hours of community service, and ordered to attend an outpatient treatment program.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office began investigating PICKARD on February 8, 2021, after a video surfaced online showing him getting rough with a dog at Family Pet Grooming in Burton.
After the video went viral, PICKARD acknowledged it was him in the video through a Facebook post and said: “The owners sat in the car and told me to finish. Two minutes later I made the dog go home. They wouldn’t let me muzzle it. I was upset. I’m usually known for dogs loving to come see me. I should not have even let it get that far. I made a mistake and [I] apologize.”
On Tuesday, a post published on PICKARD’s Facebook account read: “Free at last. Now it's time to let the truth fly. More to come. Look for my new fb page coming soon and my book to be published this fall. GOD IS GREAT!!!!! THANKNYOU TO MY FAITHFUL BELIEVERS. I LOVE YOU ALL.”
Source:
~ UPDATE: March 5, 2021
WNEM reports that according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old MICHAEL PICKARD (pictured below), has been arraigned on one count of animal cruelty charge which carries a ridiculous maximum penalty of only 93 days in prison.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
~ Original story:
A distressing video showing a dog groomer abusing a defenseless dog triggered an investigation.
I got a huge knot on my stomach after watching only the first three seconds of it.
Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson told WNEM the video is about six months old and they are not sure why it has surfaced or who filmed the incident.
In the video, the dog groomer whose name has not been officially made public, can be seen handling the poor furbaby in a way that is beyond rough and cruel while the helpless baby is on the grooming table at “Family Pet Grooming and Daycare”.
Sheriff Swanson said: “It's beyond rough. It's aggressive and it's borderline abusive.”
He also said: “It's just like grabbing a child. Somebody who can't protect themselves. It's disturbing.”
The groomer has been identified and has been questioned.
According to Sheriff Swanson the groomer seems remorseful about what happened.
Sheriff Swanson said that “The individual is fully cooperating, he's emotional and shows much sorrow.”
WNEM reports that the groomer released a Facebook post acknowledging it is him in the video saying he received 12 stitches from the dog.
Part of his post reads: “I'm usually known for dogs loving to come see me. I should not have even let it get that far. I made a mistake and apologize.”
Sheriff Swanson said: “He's trying to rationalize his decision; he's trying to justify why he did that. And that may be all well and good. But don't take it out on the actual vulnerable person or animal.”
Although the Sheriff’s Office have not received any complaints about Family Pet Grooming and Daycare in the past, Sheriff Swanson says the video certainly raises some red flags.
As the investigation unfolds, Sheriff Swanson wants people to keep in mind you don't need licensing or certification to be a groomer in Michigan, so do your homework.
The only good news so far is that the furbaby is ok.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
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