PA pet groomer and "gothic kittens"

[moosmom]

This is sick...

Pa. pet groomer charged with piercing kittens
13 hours ago
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ALLENTOWN, Pa. — 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 Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County received a tip from PETA that she was marketing the animals online for hundreds of dollars.

Crawford has said she will plead innocent.

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, of rural Ross Township. "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.

SPCA Officer Carol Morrison said the kittens had 14-gauge piercings through their ears and submission rings at the napes of their necks. One kitten's tail was docked.

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.

[Shelteez2]

Disgusting. The difference between piercing humans and piercing kittens is that the humans can make the choice to get pierced and inflict pain on themselves. Idiot.

[davidpizzica]

Donna, this is probably the first (and only) time I agree with PETA. This woman didn't care what pain these poor kittens were going through, those kittens didn't have a choice. The only thing she wanted was to make lots of money off of the internet at the cost of causing torture to these kittens. No matter how humane she said it was, it was still torture. I hope she gets all of the punishment she deserves.

[lizbud]

Disgusting. The difference between piercing humans and piercing kittens is that the humans can make the choice to get pierced and inflict pain on themselves. Idiot.

I agree. What a crazy thing to do.

[davidpizzica]

This is part of her story. Quote: " When I did it, it wasn't with any cruel intentions" She said. "They were definitely loved, well fed, no fleas, clipped nails, and they were happy". My question is, "if they were loved so much, why go ahead and torture these poor, innocent kittens?"

[phesina]

The people who BOUGHT these kittens from her must be real prizes too.

[K9soul]

I think this is awful, though I feel similar on ear cropping for dogs. It's cosmetic, and the animal has no choice. It's all for what people prefer as a look.

[Medusa]

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.

GOOD!

Does someone need to explain to this woman that humans are capable of making choices? A kitten has no voice. Good grief, when will this barbarism end?

[CultureJunky]

This was on the news section on MSN.co.uk. Needless to say I think she should be flogged and jailed for many a year. What a stupid b****.
Also no doubt there will be idiots who think it looks cute and cool, the less said about them the better.

http://news.uk.msn.com/world/article...entid=13150812

[Karen]

The article ended on a good note - she was complaining that her dog grooming business has gone completely plummeted - ""My name's ruined, my reputation's ruined, my business is ruined," she said."

Well, good! The difference between piercing a human, and piercing a kitten? A human being has a choice, and chooses to endure pain for beauty's sake. The human being can be responsible about maintaining the wound. The human being can remove the "earring" is he or she chooses. The kitten had no choice.