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Owner of grooming company responds to video of now-former employee kicking dog

HIALEAH, Fla. – The owner of a dog grooming company says he’s received death threats since one of his employees was caught on camera kicking a small dog.

That employee has since been fired.

“I have no idea why he did what he did,” said Yosuan Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is the owner of Deluxe Mobile Grooming, the Hialeah-based company that has been the subject of online backlash following the video going viral.

“For what he did, there’s no excuse, no explanation,” said Rodriguez.

He says he fired that worker after he started receiving Google Alert reviews about the incident. Only after did he learn it was all caught on camera.

“I sent him the screenshots and I said ‘Is this what I think it is? You hit the dog?’ He said, ‘Yes,’” Rodriguez said.

Speaking to Local 10 News, Rodriguez said he treats his own dogs like family and values all of his clients’ animals.

He said business has dropped and the death threats are rolling in seemingly nonstop.

“They said a lot of things,” said Rodriguez. “They’re gonna kill me, my whole family, take off my mom’s head, all sorts of bad and negative stuff.”

The dog in the video, Coco, has been given a clean bill of health by vets, but her owners say they’ve noticed some behavioral changes.

Rodriguez said he is working with Animal Services and police to help bring charges against the former employee.


About the Authors
Andrew Perez headshot

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

Terrell Forney headshot

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

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