Heartbroken dog owners say an East Village groomer allegedly “fried” their chow chow’s brain in a hair dryer, causing it to overheat and die.
Anthony Russo and Miguel Manzi have filed a $3 million lawsuit against Unleashed Spa Pet Grooming, claiming that the horrific death of their dog has “irreparably” changed their lives and left them “emotionally scarred.”
“What was once a vibrant home filled with love and joy is now shrouded in loss, grief, guilt and anger,” they said in the lawsuit.
Manzi, 51, arrived at Avenue B groomers on May 18 to pick up the 6-year-old purebred panda from his first appointment with the groomer.
According to the lawsuit, the owner, Kim Gallagher, told Manji the puppy was asleep and then charged her debit card $380 for services including nail clipping, a haircut, shampooing and blow-drying.
Frightened that something was wrong and unable to believe her dog would die at the groomer’s, Manji rushed over and found Panda unresponsive on the floor, barely breathing and with his tongue hanging out, the couple said in a lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“You killed my dog!” he yelled. “He’s dying! I need to get him to the vet right away.”
The couple said in court documents that they rushed the panda to an emergency veterinary clinic, but he died of hyperthermia and brain damage — his temperature was “well over” 106 degrees.
“The dog’s brain was exhausted from having such a high fever for so long,” the vet reportedly told the dog’s fathers.
The couple, from Kips Bay, claim they discussed with their groomer that the breed, which has a dense, double coat, is sensitive to heat, and that Panda could only be blow-dried on the cool setting.
Self-described “helicopter parents” for Panda and his mother, Ember, say they were repeatedly reassured by staff that they have several chow chow clients and are well aware of their needs.
According to the lawsuit, staff used only cold dryers to keep the panda comfortable with central air conditioning and promised to contact them if the panda showed any signs of distress.
Russo and Manzi claim the groomer’s negligence and failure to provide proper cooling measures led to an “unnecessary and avoidable death.” They say they were not even refunded their $380 groomer fee.
Panda’s death “left a void which nothing can fill”, they said in the lawsuit, and the “devastating” emotional blow has left them “devastated”.
Both men suffered from chronic illnesses and the dogs served as “an important source of emotional support and friendship,” according to the lawsuit.
They’re not the only ones suffering, according to the lawsuit.
“Ember’s grief was so intense that she had to be taken to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital, where it was determined that she had a damaged heart,” they said in the lawsuit.
Pandas are a high-quality pedigree dog thought to be of the same bloodline as Martha Stewart’s beloved Chow Chows, and purebred dogs can sell for more than $5,000 each.
“I watched you be born and unfortunately, watched you go to heaven,” Russo, 49, wrote. Recent Instagram tributes To Panda: “I tried my best to be the best dad I could be, but I feel like I didn’t live up to expectations.”
Manji would bottle-feed the dog every night, Russo added in the post.
“Unleashed Spa’s negligence resulted in Panda’s tragic and avoidable death and caused immeasurable emotional distress and pain – the pain of parents suffering the loss of their child,” said the couple’s attorney, Peggy Collin.
“This case shows that the law needs to adapt and recognise the true status of pets in the lives of human families,” she added.
Unleashed Spa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
