SARASOTA -- The owner of a Sarasota dog grooming business faces animal cruelty charges.
Sarasota police say they were investigating potential financial crimes at Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming on South Tamiami Trail when current and former employees told them 41-year-old Diana Stevens was abusing some of the dogs and cats. Public information officer Cynthia McLaughlin says she has seen the surveillance video found by detectives and it leaves her "feeling sick." "The dogs are visibly fearful and they're clearly in distress," McLaughlin says.
A Sarasota police affidavit based on the video and employee accounts says Stevens pulled a dog by the neck when it was in a grooming noose and hit the dog in the face with nail clippers, and choked and shook another dog while yelling in its face.
McLaughlin says they haven't been able to reach all of the owners of the pets affected. She urges anyone who used this particular location and noticed any physical or psychological effects on their pet to contact Detective Jessica Sullivan , who continues to investigate the case.
Woof Gang, a national pet chain based in Orlando, says it has revoked Stevens' franchise. Here is their statement:
The allegations against Ms. Stevens, a former franchisee who independently owned and operated one location in Sarasota, violate every tenet of our mission at Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, as well as our stringent operating procedures. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind. We want to make it clear that Woof Gang does not condone, tolerate, or in any way endorse such behavior. While we can not comment on the specifics of the police investigation, we can confirm that we were contacted by the Sarasota Police and took immediate action to terminate Ms. Stevens’ franchise agreement. This location is no longer authorized to operate as a Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming location and is currently in the process of being unbranded.
We emphasize that all Woof Gang locations are independently owned and operated. This incident is not reflective of our brand, our franchise owners, or the high standards of love and care for pets that Woof Gang represents across all other locations. As fellow pet owners, we are devoted to the spirit and bond we share with our pets and have always made health and safety our top priority. Our thoughts are with the community and, most importantly, the pets and pet owners involved.
Listen to an interview with Cynthia McLaughlin below:
Photo: Canva