MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the death of a dog that died while being groomed at a pet store.
RISPCA President E.J. Finocchio says the dog’s body was sent to Tufts University for a necropsy. He hopes it will determine how the 5- or 6-year-old dog, Ollie, died.
Animal cruelty officer Joe Warzycha says Ollie’s owner brought the animal to a Petco in Middletown last Thursday. She then went shopping. Ollie was dead when the owner later returned. The dog died while having its nails trimmed.
Petco says an attending vet confirmed there was no “overt evidence of trauma or neglect.”
RISPCA says Ollie had no pre-existing medical conditions.
WJAR-TV reports RISPCA is scheduled to interview Petco grooming technicians and a manager on Friday.
