After Groomer Allegedly Attacks Her, Veteran's Service Dog Has Tail Amputated
The service dog of a disabled veteran had its tail amputated after a Florida groomer allegedly attacked the animal during an appointment.
James Cordell Doughy Suthann was arrested on Monday on charges of felony cruelty to animals, according to a statement from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
During a “violent incident” at a local salon, Suthann allegedly became angry when the 8-year-old German Shepard would not stand still as Suthann was trying to complete the grooming process, police say.
“At one point you see Suthann cinch the pets head down so tight that the dog could no longer move and was obviously in pain,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey alleged in the statement. “Suthann grabs the dog’s tail and completely lifts him off the ground causing the pet’s tail to be twisted a full 360 degrees and to be broken to the extent it could not be reattached.”
Due to a “significant” level of injury, the dog underwent emergency surgery to amputate her tail.
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Ivey did not share the “graphic” video publicly, explaining: “Trust me when I tell you that it is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to watch in my 39 years of law enforcement because of the horrific and cruel way the pet was treated.”
It was not immediately clear if Suthann has retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
