BRIARCLIFF MANOR – Westchester County’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit has arrested a Peekskill man on a charge of animal cruelty.
Video recorded on July 26 at Dogtopia Daycare of Mount Kisco showed Cole Kamrath, an employee of the dog grooming company, violently slamming the dog on a grooming table during a nail trimming. Milo was then seen collapsing as he loses consciousness.
When Milo, a 14-pound senior rat terrier, returned home, his owners noticed he wasn’t walking properly, constantly sleeping, and had lost his appetite.
He was taken to a local veterinarian who discovered bruising all along Milo’s torso, indicating recent trauma.
“It is deeply disturbing that someone in a profession dedicated to caring for animals would so delivery and viciously harm one,” said Shannon Laukhuf, SPCA Westchester’s chief executive officer.
Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace said she was “appalled by the cruel and callous behavior alleged this case.”
A Dogtopia spokesman, meanwhile, issued a statement on behalf of the business.
“We are aware of a serious matter involving a former employee at our location. When our team identified disturbing conduct involving the former employee, we terminated the employee and immediately contacted local law enforcement. We’re fully cooperating with their ongoing investigation,” he said. “The safety and well-being of every dog in our care remains our highest priority. We take any incident seriously to provide the safest possible environment for all dogs entrusted to us.”
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