🚀 go-pugleaf

Pet groomer charged with piercing kittens

Associated Press
Originally published 06:54 a.m., January 23, 2009

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) � A woman who marketed "gothic kittens" with ear, 
neck and tail piercings over the Internet has been charged with animal cruelty 
and conspiracy.

Dog groomer Holly Crawford, 34, was charged Tuesday by humane officers. Her home 
outside Wilkes-Barre was raided Dec. 17 after the authorities received a tip 
from the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that she was 
marketing the animals online for hundreds of dollars.
Crawford has said she will plead not guilty.

Crawford told The Associated Press on Thursday that she didn't see any 
difference between piercing a cat and piercing a human. She said she used 
sterile needles and surgical soap and that she checked the kittens several times 
a day to make sure they were healing properly.

"When I did it, it wasn't with any cruel intentions," said Crawford. "They were 
definitely loved, well-fed, no fleas, clipped nails. And they were happy."

Daphna Nachminovitch, a vice president for People for the Ethical Treatment of 
Animals, called the piercings "barbaric."

"There's no excuse for inflicting such pain on an animal that's the size of your 
palm," she said.
Crawford, who sports her own body piercings, said she decided on a whim to 
pierce the ears and neck of a stray kitten she took in last fall and named 
Snarley Monster. She said she docked the cat's tail because it was badly damaged 
and that the animal was not intended for sale.

Morrison charged Crawford and William Blansett, 37, of Sweet Valley, each with 
three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, three summary counts of cruelty and 
three counts of conspiracy.

Crawford said Blansett helped take calls about the kittens but that he had 
nothing to do with the piercings.

A number for Blansett could not be located.

Crawford said her dog-grooming business, Pawside Parlor, has plummeted since the 
raid and that she has received dozens of nasty phone calls.

"My name's ruined, my reputation's ruined, my business is ruined," she said.

==========

So dog owners/shops who crop ears and tails are guilty of animal cruelty too?

Or bird owners/shops who have the animal's tongue split so they can mimic
human sounds ?