A 28-year-old former employee at a Mooresville pet spa faces felony animal abuse charges after video footage allegedly showed her striking and mishandling multiple dogs during grooming sessions.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Kirsten Rhea Taylor has been charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty. The charges stem from an investigation launched earlier this week following reports of abuse at Classy Critters, a pet grooming business on Brawley School Road.
Authorities say the evidence was submitted by a coworker who recorded video of Taylor’s actions during grooming appointments. Investigators reviewed the footage and identified at least four separate instances involving client-owned dogs being treated in what deputies described as “a clearly aggressive and abusive manner.”
Det. Sgt. P. Irwin worked in coordination with county Animal Services to assess the videos and obtain corroborating witness statements. Based on the findings, arrest warrants were issued for Taylor.
The owner of Classy Critters stated that the matter was addressed immediately and confirmed that Taylor is no longer employed at the business.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as more witnesses are interviewed and affected pet owners are contacted.
Taylor was booked into the Iredell County jail and released on bond. Sheriff Darren Campbell emphasized that Animal Services operates independently from the sheriff’s office, though they collaborated closely on this case.
