Owner of Silver Spring Pet Grooming Salon Convicted of 17 Counts of Animal Cruelty

Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 26, 2022
The owner of a Silver Spring Pet Grooming Salon has been convicted of 17 counts of animal cruelty after the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services executed a search and seizure warrant at the property in October 2020.

Carrie Seek, owner of Pampered Poodles, a pet grooming salon and licensed commercial kennel located at 101 Williamsburg Dr. in Silver Spring, was convicted on July 21 in Montgomery County District Court following prosecution by the Office of the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County.

Ms. Seek was convicted of 17 counts of failure to provide veterinary care and adequate space. She was sentenced by Judge Victor M. Del Pino to 4.2 years of jail time, all 4.2 years were suspended, and two years of supervised probation. She will be prohibited from owning, residing with, possessing or controlling any animals during this period. She was also ordered to receive mental health care services and abide by the treatment recommendations.

Ms. Seek has 30 days to appeal the ruling.

The Office of Animal Service on Oct. 17, 2020, seized at the operation seven Maltese-type dogs, two Shiloh Shepherd-type dogs and one small turtle.

Officers responded to a complaint to Animal Services Executive Director Thomas Koenig by a veterinarian at Metropolitan Animal Emergency Specialty Center.

At the home, officers found unsanitary conditions that included an infestation of fleas. All dogs were found anemic as a result of the extreme flea infestation. One of the Maltese-type dogs died from medical conditions exacerbated by the anemia.

The dogs received veterinary care at the County’s animal shelter facility in Derwood. The flea anemia was resolved in the other dogs, the skin healed and the missing fur grew back. The dogs remain in Office of Animal Services custody pending any future appeals.

“Watching the remarkable transformation these dogs experienced after confiscation is the reason we do what we do,” said Office of Animal Services Chief Veterinarian Gregory Lawrence. “The entire Montgomery County Office of Animals Services team did a fantastic job.”

“I’m so proud of our staff, officers, and the State’s Attorney’s Office,” said Executive Director Koenig. “The time and effort they dedicated to putting this together saved the lives of these dogs and resulted in a successful outcome in court.”

The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC), operated by the Office of Animal Services, provides high-standard sheltering and care to the homeless, abused and neglected animals in the community. It is the County’s only open-admission, municipal shelter.