Former clients, employees protest outside local ‘pet resort’

MOORESVILLE, NC – A group of animal advocates want a Mooresville animal care business closed because of what they say is a pattern of animal abuse and negligence. Protesters gathered at on Brawley School Road outside of Classy Critters Tuesday afternoon.

“There is no excuse for negligence, no excuse for abuse, none of that is classy,” Allison Hartley, Former customer said.

Hartley claims her dog was injured at Classy Critters 11 years ago during a weekend stay.

“My dog Levi was injured here 11 years ago,” Hartley said. “Kota just escaped from this facility, was hit by a car, caused a car accident and was missing for several days.”

Sheldon Hipps, a local pet owner says his dog got through two unlocked doors at Classy Critters on Wednesday and ran away. The animal was found days later with minor injuries. Hipps says the owner at Classy Critters paid his vet bill.

A former employee now faces criminal charges charges after a viral video appears to show her abusing dogs in her care. Twenty-eight year old Kirsten Taylor is charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty.

A former Classy Critters employee was also at Tuesday’s protest. She tells WCCB she witnessed the Classy Critters owner physically abuse an animal in 2022.

“One of the dogs, a beautiful black and white labradoodle got in her way and she smacked it right across the face, I’m talking about the owner not the employee,” Pamela Hudspeth, Former Employee said.

Hudspeth says she quit immediately and didn’t even collect her final paycheck.

“I want to see her closed down or at least get that place full of cameras, when I was there I didn’t see one camera,” Hudspeth said.

Pamela Byars, the owner of Classy Critters showed up to her business Tuesday night asking WCCB to leave her property. When asked about the allegations, she responded “no comment.”

The group of animal advocates who spent a rainy evening outside holding signs want people to be on alert.

“I do urge any pet parents that has a story to call the authorities make your voice heard,” Harley said. “We just want to make a difference for these pets who don’t have a voice.”

Hipps, the owner of the dog who escaped wants state lawmakers to consider legislation that would require boarding businesses to keep animals on tracking devices in case they get lost.