A woman in Mooresville, North Carolina, has been arrested and charged after multiple disturbing videos surfaced showing her abusing dogs during grooming sessions at a local pet spa.
Authorities in Iredell County confirmed that 28-year-old Kirsten Rhea Taylor was arrested on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and is now facing four felony charges related to animal cruelty.
Viral Video Triggers Investigation Into Grooming Abuse
The arrest followed an investigation that began after video footage, recorded by a concerned coworker, was shared publicly on social media.
Authorities confirmed the footage depicted repeated incidents of aggressive handling and physical abuse involving at least four dogs brought in for routine grooming services at Classy Critters Pet Resort & Spa.
Videos Show Dogs Struck, Slammed, and Mishandled
According to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the video showed Taylor striking, slapping, and forcefully spinning dogs by their necks while grooming.
In one instance, a frightened dog was allegedly slammed against a wall, and in another, a dog was punched five times.
The videos were initially posted on Facebook and quickly went viral, prompting public outrage and law enforcement action.
“These dogs were verified to be clients’ pets brought in for routine care,” the sheriff’s office stated in a Facebook post.
Coworker’s Warnings to Owner Allegedly Ignored
According to a Facebook post by the sister of the employee who filmed the abuse, she first verbally reported the mistreatment to the business owner, Pam, as early as June 20, 2025.
The owner allegedly responded by saying she would “talk” to Taylor, but took no further action.
The coworker was later fired after requesting time off for a family emergency, the post alleges. Feeling frustrated and unheard, she decided to post the videos on social media.
“My sister did the best next thing she could think of and take the video to her social media to bring awareness to the mistreatment of animals,” the post wrote.
Arrest Made, Search Warrant Executed
Due to the serious nature of the allegations, Iredell County Animal Services referred the case to the Sheriff’s Office on Monday, July 21. Detectives then obtained arrest warrants for Taylor, based on both video evidence and witness statements.
She was arrested on July 24, and a $10,000 (approx. S$12,867) secured bond was set by Magistrate Callejas.
That same day, investigators, with the assistance of Iredell County Animal Control, executed a search warrant at Classy Critters, collecting further evidence related to the investigation.
“We will always take allegations of animal abuse seriously and will hold offenders accountable,” said Sheriff Darren Campbell.
Groomer No Longer Employed, Investigation Ongoing
Following the release of the videos and the arrest, the owner of Classy Critters confirmed that Taylor “no longer works at the facility,” Local 3 News reported.
The case remains under investigation.
Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses, contact affected pet owners, and review additional evidence. Authorities say more charges may be filed depending on the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
Watch the videos here:
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