Outrage as Pet Groomer Is Secretly Filmed Abusing Dogs at North Carolina's Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa

A pet groomer at Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa in Mooresville, North Carolina, has been sacked and is under investigation after videos surfaced showing her abusing dogs during grooming sessions.

The footage, which has garnered over one million views on social media, has sparked widespread outrage, prompting a Change.org petition with over 5,000 signatures calling for the facility's closure, as the incident has raised serious concerns about animal welfare and oversight at pet care facilities.

Disturbing Videos Prompt Swift Action

The controversy began when three videos, secretly recorded by a fellow employee in June 2025 and posted to Facebook on 18 July 2025, showed a groomer at Classy Critters engaging in aggressive handling of dogs.

One clip captures her slapping and possibly punching a dog, while another shows her slamming a dog onto a grooming table and striking it multiple times. A third video depicts her spinning a dog by the neck before hitting it.

The whistleblower, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, told Yahoo News, 'I felt sick to my stomach, angry and very upset for someone to be allowed to do this.'

The groomer was immediately terminated following the internal review of the videos, according to a statement from the facility's owner, Pam Byars, posted on Facebook on July 19.

Byars condemned the behaviour as unacceptable, stating, 'I have zero tolerance for any type of abuse with the animals in my care.'

Public Backlash and Allegations of Owner Misconduct

The viral videos have fuelled public fury, with X posts reflecting the community's anger. @venetianblonde wrote, 'Classless bitch beats and hits a tied up beautiful golden retriever while "grooming" the dog. Identify this pos and jail her, North Carolina.'

Similarly, @Ames2420 urged, 'This animal abuse happened at Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa in NC. So do not take your pets there.'

A Change.org petition launched on 20 July accused the facility of neglect and mistreatment, alleging Byars was aware of the abuse but failed to act until the videos went public.

Further controversy arose from claims that Byars threatened the whistleblower's sister, who was subsequently fired due to a family emergency.

Screenshots show a sender, identified as 'Pam At Classy Critters,' messaging, 'I will sue you in a heartbeat if you don't take down that post. And I can do it,' followed by, 'You don't want to mess with me, little girl,' as per Yahoo News. Byars has not publicly responded to these allegations.

Ongoing Investigation and Calls for Reform

Iredell County Animal Services launched an active investigation into the incident on 21 July 2025, with Lead Investigator Goforth encouraging witnesses to contact them at 704-878-5335.

As of July 23, no charges have been filed, and the groomer's identity remains undisclosed. Public sentiment is mixed, with some loyal clients defending Classy Critters, citing positive experiences.

Customer Tracy Deal told the same Yahoo News report, 'As an owner, you tried to hire the best quality staff people in there, but you can't watch them all the time.' However, others demand stricter oversight, with some advocating for mandatory video recording of grooming sessions.

The petition, now exceeding 5,000 signatures, calls for the closure of the facility and broader reforms to animal welfare. The incident has left Mooresville's pet-owning community shaken, with many questioning the trust placed in grooming facilities.