A West Bend dog groomer is under investigation after a viral video appeared online showing a small dog being handled roughly inside a downtown salon. Neighbors and bystanders shared the clip across social media, fueling outrage and a police complaint. The incident has been sent to prosecutors and is now under review.
What the video shows
According to FOX6 News Milwaukee, Kyle Wilson started filming after a worker at a neighboring shop told him a dog was being mistreated. Wilson told FOX6 the video shows the groomer yanking and dragging the small dog, striking it with a hose and a blower nozzle, and grabbing it by the leg. He said he passed the clip to the dog's owner, who then posted it online, where it spread quickly.
Shop named in the clip
The salon shown in the footage is identified as Joy's of Grooming, a small storefront in downtown West Bend. LocalVetClinics.net lists Joy's of Grooming at 1706 N. Main St., and MapQuest lists K & Ts Korner Groomer at the same address. Neighbors said staff from the other shop alerted the person who filmed the incident, setting off the chain of events that led to the investigation.
Charges referred to prosecutors
West Bend police told local reporters they received a complaint on Wednesday, May 27, and launched an immediate inquiry. Possible animal mistreatment charges were then referred to the Washington County District Attorney's office for review, FOX6 reports. The station says reporters tried to reach the shop and left messages, but the owner was unavailable for comment. As of the latest update, officials have not announced any arrests or filed charges.
What the law says
Under Wisconsin law, treating an animal "in a cruel manner" is prohibited and addressed under the state's animal-cruelty statutes. See Wis. Stat. A7 951.02 on Justia for the statutory text; related penalty provisions can escalate misdemeanors to felony charges depending on severity and intent. Prosecutors typically look at video evidence alongside veterinary findings and witness statements before deciding how to proceed.
Neighbors and next steps
Neighbors said the footage was hard to watch and called for tighter oversight of local animal care. "It made me really mad and disgusted," Holly Bechler, who lives near the shop, told FOX6. The man who recorded the clip said he hopes the attention results in changes to how animals are handled at the salon.
The Washington County District Attorney's office will decide whether to file criminal charges and whether further investigation is needed. This story will be updated as prosecutors or police release new information.
