A Florida dog owner found his 10-year-old Great Pyrenees dead on a grooming table less than an hour after dropping her off for an appointment. The grooming business was fined only $148, sparking calls for new laws requiring pet groomers to be trained in emergencies.
Devastating Discovery at Groomer
Neil Rubenstein took his dog, Rilee, to Fluffy Puppies of Pinellas in Florida in October 2025. Less than an hour later, he received a phone call and rushed back to the groomers, where he found Rilee unresponsive on the table.
“Rilee was laying on her side on the grooming table with her tongue out, and she had already expired. So, I obviously lost it,” Neil said.
Fine and Investigation
Fluffy Puppies of Pinellas was cited for neglect and failing to provide humane care by Pinellas Animal Services. The business pleaded no contest and was fined $148.
Neil obtained surveillance footage from the store following Rilee’s death and consulted a veterinarian, who he said believed the restraint around the dog’s neck had been too tight. The footage also appeared to show no attempt being made to resuscitate Rilee or provide first aid.
A necropsy was not carried out, meaning Rilee’s cause of death has not been independently determined.
Calls for 'Rilee's Law'
Her death has sparked calls for tougher rules surrounding pet groomers in Florida. Elizabeth Olson, founder of the Animal Justice Task Force, said Florida has no statewide licensing requirements for pet groomers and no requirements for them to receive emergency training. She is pushing for “Rilee’s Law,” which would require pet groomers to undergo basic emergency training. The proposal remains in its early stages.
Longtime groomer Jennifer Harmon, who owns Pet Styles By Jennifer, backed the calls for emergency training. “I think there should be requirements. I think there should be CPR training. There should be an emergency protocol that all staff should be aware of and be ready to enact,” she said.
Neil told Fox13: “I think there needs to be some sort of governing body that regulates them, that oversees them.” He said Rilee’s memory still fills his home and hopes the push for change following her death could help protect other people’s pets.
