Groomer Fined In Death Of Dogs

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A dog groomer has been fined $500 for the deaths of two collies that were blow-dried in a small cage on a hot day.

Jeanette Brandt was found guilty of cruelty to animals.

She was charged after two Scotch collies were washed, then confined to a cage with an industrial blow-dryer running. The cage had no ventilation and the outside temperature was 90 degrees when the dogs died May 30, 1995.

In passing sentence Monday, provincial court Judge William Sandhu said he thought Brandt did not mean to kill the dogs, but was negligent.

The two dogs, 5-year-old Lady and 7-year-old Shedo, were placed together in a kennel that was about 2 feet wide, 3 feet long and 3 feet high.

Veterinarian Dr. Russell Gerard testified earlier the dogs' temperature must have reached more than 107 degrees.