Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) was joined today by businessman David Dietz, owner of the Puppy Paradise pet store, in personally delivering a new puppy to Zoe Del Toro, 8, the heartbroken child whose dog, Phoebe, died during a routine visit to the groomer last week. Dietz decided to donate the puppy after learning of the tragic story.
“Nothing can replace Phoebe, but I know this new puppy will have a place in your heart,” said Sen. Kruger of the tiny brown and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
“David Dietz is to be commended for coming forward in the spirit of generosity and making a little girl’s day,” he said. Dietz, whose store is located at
2082 Flatbush Avenue
, is a longtime dog groomer who supports Sen. Kruger’s legislation.
Last Wednesday, Phoebe, a three-year-old shih-tzu owned by Zoe and her mom, Tina Del Toro of Bergen Beach, died after she was left in a drying cage too long at the Brooklyn Zoo & Aquarium, Inc.
Sen. Kruger, who held a news conference last week outside the Brooklyn Zoo, is introducing legislation in Albany to license pet groomers “in order to establish training, testing and standards of care” in this currently unregulated industry. The bill (S. 8279) also calls for a ban on the use of drying cages. The specific type of cage in which Phoebe died reaches a maximum of 136 degrees.
“Currently, a person may open a pet grooming shop without any formal training, no education, no certification and with no oversight,” said Sen. Kruger. “This lack of regulation can lead to irresponsible pet groomers harming and even causing the death of unsuspecting people’s pets.”
“This bill would ensure a regulated standard by which all pet groomers and pet grooming facilities would operate,” he said.