Lisa Celeste Pfund, 56, was arrested at a Houston-area motel about two months after the dog died. Investigators said Lincoln died as a result of negligence.
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A Houston-area woman was arrested and is facing a felony charge about two months after investigators said she killed a dog while she was working as a groomer.
Lisa Celeste Pfund, 56, is charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal, a felony.
On Jan. 30, League City authorities responded to the PetSuites on Calder Road after getting reports that a dog had died at the facility.
Investigators determined the dog’s owner dropped the 5-year-old goldendoodle off for grooming services.
Detectives began an investigation to determine what happened. Police say they issued multiple subpoenas, conducted interviews, and reviewed surveillance video before determining the dog died as a result of negligence while in the care of its groomer, Pfund.
League City police said the dog, Lincoln, was attached to the grooming station with a cinch collar when he appeared to become “lifeless.”
“League City police tell me detectives reviewed surveillance footage from inside the PetSuites here, which shows the dog apparently struggling with a tight collar – while the groomer did nothing to help,” League City Police Department spokesperson Jose Ortega said. “He was spinning, not reacting well to being tied down, I guess, to which Lisa allowed him to move and rotate and spin around, and he spun around multiple times which was causing the collar to just sinch down even harder and harder and harder, to where he even at one point came off of the table, the grooming table, and was allowed to, appeared to be, hanging there for a moment.”
Investigators said Pfund eventually picked Lincoln up by the collar and put him back on the table.
“Then, it seemed like his body became lifeless,” Ortega said.
The necropsy report showed Lincoln’s death was associated with complications due to strangulation.
Ortega said it’s rare for a groomer to be charged with cruelty. A warrant for her arrest was issued on Feb. 24.
After multiple attempts to find her, investigators tracked Pfund down to a motel off West Bay Area Boulevard in Webster. She was arrested on March 30 and taken to the Galveston County Jail. Her bond has been set at $50,000.
Authorities said Lincoln’s owners used PetSuites’ boarding service before but this was their first time using the grooming service.
Pfund is due back in court on Wednesday.
PetSuite issued this statement on the incident:
“Our hearts continue to go out to the family affected by this tragic loss. The health and safety of pets in our care is our top priority, and we are devastated by the incident at our facility. The actions taken by the groomer were a direct violation of our safety protocols and do not reflect the values of our team. The involved individual is no longer employed with PetSuites.
“We have been in full cooperation with the authorities throughout the investigation and we remain committed to ensuring something like this can never happen in our care again.”
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