A pet boutique in Fairfax, California is closing down months after facing backlash after a video from their store went viral, showing one of their employees slamming a dog to the ground.
Bark n’ Bitches, which opened in 2006, is closing by the end of the month due to pressure from the city of Los Angeles Animal Services Department.
The viral video, which was posted in November 2019, showed the employee forcibly grabbing the dog by the back of his neck before violently tossing him to the ground in front of customers.
The frightened dog then cowered under a table while others in the store tried to comfort him, including the manager, who also tried to calm the mortified customers down.
Witnesses say the dog was upside down and landed right on his head when he hit the floor. He was brought to a veterinarian to be examined and thankfully made a full recovery.
Bark n’ Bitches immediately fired the employee responsible.
Rebecca Corry of the Stand Up For Pits Foundation made a statement:
“The human who did this didn’t think twice about abusing this dog so publicly and should be met with severe punishment and this establishment be held accountable as well,” she wrote. “Should all those dogs be removed and taken on by other rescues, the SUFP will help assists how we can if needed.”
Corry’s wish came true, and the establishment is now closing its doors after City Animal Services launched an investigation into the incident.
The boutique’s owner says the city seized 17 dogs and puppies on Jan. 17 and has them under their care.
“It is with great sadness, and certainly not by choice, that this magical, love filled shop has been forced to close as a result of the pressures put on me by LAAS (Los Angeles Animal Service),” the owner wrote on Instagram.
