Skip to Article
Quick Look
-
CurrentMostly Sunny -Mostly Sunny
TonightMostly SunnyLow -Mostly Sunny
TomorrowMostly SunnyHigh -Mostly Sunny
Scruffles was a healthy, 8-year-old Bulldog when he died during a grooming at the Flemington PetSmart on Dec. 29, 2017, owner Danielle DiNapoli said. (Photo courtesy Danielle DiNapoli)
By
  • Justice for Scruffles" page. The post has gone viral, garnering more than 16,000 shares and 10,000 likes.

    "We are truly saddened by the loss of Scruffles," PetSmart said in a statement. "While a comprehensive internal investigation is still ongoing, our initial findings indicate the associates involved followed all policies and procedures consistent with care and services provided to breeds such as bulldogs."

    The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is actively investigating Scruffles' death and is looking into whether or not to file charges, spokesman Matt Stanton said.

    No police report involving PetSmart has been filed in the last month with Raritan Township Police, Capt. Kevin Donovan said.

    Pet groomers in N.J. are not required to be licensed, but NJ.com on Facebook.

    Have a tip? Tell us.

    Sophie Nieto-Munoz
    [email protected]
    About NJ.com
  • Jobs at NJ Advance Media
  • The Times of Trenton
  • Manage your Subscription
  • N.J. News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Jersey's Best
  • Rentals
  • Facebook
  • Place an ad
  • UPDATE: Did your pet die after visiting a groomer? Was your pet severely injured? We want to hear your story. ","type":"text"},{"_id":"KMXNI44QLVEGXOP5ZH7U4BPGZU","content":"Danielle DiNapoli was shocked to be told her beloved bulldog, Scruffles, was dead just one hour after being dropped off on Dec. 29 for a grooming at a Hunterdon County PetSmart.","type":"text"}],"created_date":"2018-09-01T16:02:18.679Z","credits":{"by":[{"_id":"s_munoz","type":"author","version":"0.5.8","name":"Sophie Nieto-Munoz","image":{"url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/advancelocal/b46d576e-e2ca-4faf-906f-e3d7f6f456f5.png"}}}]},"description":{"basic":"At least three Hunterdon County residents have come forward claiming their dogs were injured or died after groomings at the Flemington PetSmart. "},"display_date":"2018-01-09T03:06:03Z","distributor":{"category":"staff"},"first_publish_date":"2018-01-09T03:06:03Z","headlines":{"basic":"2 dogs die, 1 injured after PetSmart groomings, owners say"},"last_updated_date":"2024-11-18T21:11:19.635Z","owner":{"id":"advancelocal","sponsored":false},"promo_items":{"basic":{"additional_properties":{"published":true},"caption":"Scruffles was a healthy, 8-year-old Bulldog when he died during a grooming at the Flemington PetSmart on Dec. 29, 2017, owner Danielle DiNapoli said. (Photo courtesy Danielle DiNapoli)","distributor":{"category":"staff"},"height":282,"owner":{"id":"advancelocal"},"source":{"system":"MT"},"type":"image","url":"https://advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/image.advance.net/home/adv-media/width2048/img/hunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication/photo/2018/01/08/screen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png 600w,\n http://image.nj.com/home/advance-media/width600/img/hunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication/photo/2018/01/08/screen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png","version":"0.10.10","auth":{"1":"1060e92bffeb26d7243b8a25cc13908f287d99653d2ac1211a65d9fb62096987"},"resized_urls":{"large":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/http%3A%2F%2Fimage.nj.com%2Fhome%2Fadvance-media%2Fwidth600%2Fimg%2Fhunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication%2Fphoto%2F2018%2F01%2F08%2Fscreen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png?auth=1060e92bffeb26d7243b8a25cc13908f287d99653d2ac1211a65d9fb62096987&width=1280&smart=true&quality=90","medium":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/http%3A%2F%2Fimage.nj.com%2Fhome%2Fadvance-media%2Fwidth600%2Fimg%2Fhunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication%2Fphoto%2F2018%2F01%2F08%2Fscreen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png?auth=1060e92bffeb26d7243b8a25cc13908f287d99653d2ac1211a65d9fb62096987&width=800&smart=true&quality=90","small":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/http%3A%2F%2Fimage.nj.com%2Fhome%2Fadvance-media%2Fwidth600%2Fimg%2Fhunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication%2Fphoto%2F2018%2F01%2F08%2Fscreen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png?auth=1060e92bffeb26d7243b8a25cc13908f287d99653d2ac1211a65d9fb62096987&width=500&smart=true&quality=90","x_small":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/http%3A%2F%2Fimage.nj.com%2Fhome%2Fadvance-media%2Fwidth600%2Fimg%2Fhunterdon_county_nj-lvl_syndication%2Fphoto%2F2018%2F01%2F08%2Fscreen-shot-2018-01-03-at-40916-pmpng-651967196affbb92.png?auth=1060e92bffeb26d7243b8a25cc13908f287d99653d2ac1211a65d9fb62096987&width=180&smart=true&quality=90"}}},"expires":1762957467201,"lastModified":1762957167149}},"trackonomics-domains-api":{"undefined":{"data":{"detectionKey":"(fubo.tv|(pxf|sjv)\\.io|(goto.target|go.web.plus.espn)\\.com|(tnu8|fanatics.93n6tx|k77v|775j|vwz6|ue7a|i8h2|am3t9s|uym8|evyy)\\.net|(c1\\.dealnews\\.com)|(go\\.redirectingat\\.com)|(go\\.skimresources\\.com)|(fave\\.co)|(go\\.[a-zA-Z0-9].*?\\.com(\\/?)\\?id=[0-9].+?X[0-9].+?&)|(amazon\\.[\\S]*?\\/(dp|gp)\\/[\\S]*?tag=)|(amazon\\.[\\S]*?\\/[\\S]*?\\?[\\S]*?tag=[a-zA-Z0-9-]+\\-(\\d{2}))|(\\/amzn\\.)|(\\.amazon-adsystem\\.com)|(click\\.linksynergy\\.com)|(linksynergy\\.walmart\\.com)|(anrdoezrs\\.net)|(jdoqocy\\.com)|(tqlkg\\.com)|(tkqlhce\\.com)|(kqzyfj\\.com)|(ftjcfx\\.com)|(lduhtrp\\.net)|(jqoqocy\\.com)|(Kqzfj\\.com)|(dpbolvw\\.net)|(qksrv\\.net)|(awin1\\.com)|(pepperjamnetwork\\.com)|(pjtra\\.com\\/t\\/)|(gopjn\\.com\\/t\\/)|(pjatr\\.com\\/t\\/)|(pntra\\.com\\/t\\/)|(pntrs\\.com\\/t\\/)|(pntrac\\.com\\/t\\/)|(\\/(c)\\/([0-9]+)\\/([0-9]+))|(prf\\.hn\\/click)|(prf\\.hn\\/l)|(shop\\.).*camref\\:)","_id":"4979dc5c4b2908667e7c871098450fa04564eaba937ecc8e32273efa336c4472"},"expires":1763023510129,"lastModified":1762937109286}},"affiliate-marketing-config":{"undefined":{"data":{"affiliate_only_authors":["adill","albert","amanda-edelman","amyhavin","apalya","arianatourangeau","bmanley","cayden-steele","dgeske","dhalibey","dhockens","jchandler","jennamalinowski","jessica-day","jhowell","joey-aliberti","johnholland","jrejent","khadrice-rollins","madisonkemeny","mdunaj","mdwortz","niuzzolino","rachelmorrison","rfenbers","tkuehl","tlagrone","yliwanag"],"affiliate_nonexclusive_authors":["ahernand","aknudson","anniebarron","asuarez","bsaxelson","bsherman","carolbenanti","chopkin2","csheldon","gracelynsantos","hdomin","jdamodio","jhumburg","jimmy-hascup","jmorona","jodom","jsimmons","kldavis","krodriguez","leadagore","mgoul","mheim","mrose","mswanson","nickjomalley","rnovozinsky","seadams","tbrown","timbielik","tsanzo","vrosenthal"],"product_category_exclude_sections":["sports"],"trackonomics_tags":["@trx"],"trackonomics_sections":["live-entertainment","shopping","shopping-deals","sports","sports/event-tickets","tv"],"trackonomics_exclude_sections":["betting","casinos","fantasy","lottery","sweepstakes"],"trackonomics_authors":["adill","ahernand","aknudson","albert","amanda-edelman","amyhavin","anniebarron","apalya","arianatourangeau","asuarez","bmanley","bsaxelson","bsherman","carolbenanti","cayden-steele","chopkin2","csheldon","dgeske","dhalibey","dhockens","gracelynsantos","hdomin","jchandler","jdamodio","jennamalinowski","jessica-day","jhowell","jhumburg","jimmy-hascup","jmorona","jodom","joey-aliberti","johnholland","jrejent","jsimmons","khadrice-rollins","kldavis","krodriguez","leadagore","madisonkemeny","mdunaj","mdwortz","mgoul","mheim","mrose","mswanson","nickjomalley","niuzzolino","rachelmorrison","rfenbers","rnovozinsky","seadams","tbrown","timbielik","tkuehl","tlagrone","tsanzo","vrosenthal","yliwanag"],"web_category_sections":["betting","entertainment"],"_id":"f170b26eff9c4a1d02d9183dbe0081280187aebf2450f47c79b9fa5310ec5156"},"expires":1762957229377,"lastModified":1760462888000}},"rollcall-active-poll-data":{"undefined":{"data":{"activePollData":{"14":{"startDate":1600056000000,"endDate":1897275600000,"affiliates":["lehighvalleylive","lonestarlive"],"articles":["4AHJ7RWD4ZEOBGTXQV6UGCBTOY","XPQSBA6GUVBXBFLNP32LUWPPSA"],"categories":[],"customCategories":[],"customEntities":[],"segments":[],"headlineSubstrings":[],"showOnBettingPage":false,"showOnRegularArticle":true,"tags":[]}},"_id":"4f540aa8fe9cf1e16d4069e94d1e1bf370f0761c76cba70410f1c97b59f94d57"},"expires":1762957174876,"lastModified":1762956040000}},"author-api":{"{\"id\":\"s_munoz\"}":{"data":{"_id":"s_munoz","status":true,"byline":"Sophie Nieto-Munoz | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com","twitter":"snietomunoz","email":"[email protected]","mt_author_id":"12583754","books":[],"podcasts":[],"education":[],"awards":[],"last_updated_date":"2020-04-24T21:03:59.153Z","firstName":"Sophie","lastName":"Nieto-Munoz","bio":"Covering breaking news for New Jersey. Contact me [email protected]","image":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/advancelocal/b46d576e-e2ca-4faf-906f-e3d7f6f456f5.png","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/advancelocal/b46d576e-e2ca-4faf-906f-e3d7f6f456f5.png","auth":{"1":"81cdec59da8543bd4c3089ebca648d71999256c37472eebc01764a9bc2090948"},"resized_urls":{"x_small":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fauthor-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub%2Fadvancelocal%2Fb46d576e-e2ca-4faf-906f-e3d7f6f456f5.png?auth=81cdec59da8543bd4c3089ebca648d71999256c37472eebc01764a9bc2090948&width=180&smart=true&quality=90","medium":"https://www.nj.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fauthor-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub%2Fadvancelocal%2Fb46d576e-e2ca-4faf-906f-e3d7f6f456f5.png?auth=81cdec59da8543bd4c3089ebca648d71999256c37472eebc01764a9bc2090948&width=510&smart=true&quality=90"}},"expires":1762957336888,"lastModified":1762957036769}},"admiral-install-api":{"{\"propertyID\":\"A-5C9E70EBD9D905257F625AAB-8\"}":{"data":{"script":"!(function(S,_name){S[_name]=S[_name]||function I(){(I.q=I.q||[]).push(arguments)},S[_name].v=S[_name].v||2,S[_name].s=\"3\";!(function(S,I,V,t){function P(V,t){try{P=S.localStorage,(V=JSON.parse(P[decodeURI(decodeURI('ge%74%254%39%2574%256%35m'))](\"_aQS01QzlFNzBFQkQ5RDkwNTI1N0Y2MjVBQUItOA\")).lgk||[])&&(t=S[I].pubads())&&V.forEach((function(S){S&&S[0]&&t.setTargeting(S[0],S[1]||\"\")}))}catch(A){}var P}try{(t=S[I]=S[I]||{}).cmd=t.cmd||[],typeof t.pubads===V?P():typeof t.cmd.unshift===V?t.cmd.unshift(P):t.cmd.push(P)}catch(A){}})(window,decodeURI(decodeURI('g%6fo%25%367let%61%256%37')),\"function\");;})(window,decodeURI(decodeURI('%2561%256%34%256d%69r%2561%256c')));!(function(S,I,V,t,P,A,a,C,Z,b,k,f,J,R,L,c,B,z,n,Q,U,e,p,r,D){function H(V,A){navigator.onLine&&Q&&(Q=!1,(A=(function(S,I,V){if(!c)return!1;for(I=(S=c.getEntriesByType(\"resource\")).length;V=S[--I];)if(!V.deliveryType&&V.transferSize>300&&V.fetchStart>B)return!0;return!1})())||(D=8),!U&&n&&(D=16),!U&&!A||(function(V,A,a){if(!/bot|spider|headlesschrome|java\\/i.test(navigator.userAgent||\"\")&&(new(function(){V=(function h(e,t,r,n){if(!e||(function e(r,n,i,o){for(o=0;r&&o0&&(r[o+1]||[]).unshift(i),i=(n=t[r[o]])&&n(e,r[o+1]||[]);return i})(e))return r.apply(this,n||[])}([0,[[[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/digitalsubscription\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/athleticoffer2019\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete1\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete2\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete3\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete4\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete5\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete6\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete7\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete8\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/complete9\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/customercare1\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/customercare2\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/customercare3\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/display\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/email\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/emailw\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/employee\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/eoa\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/flash\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/inline\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/intercept\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/learnmore\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/sem\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/social\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/spts\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/topic\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/insider\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/subscribe\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/supporter\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/contributor\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb1\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb2\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb3\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb4\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb5\"]]]],[1,[[3,[],2,[\"/wb6\"]]]],[4,[[[1,[[6,[\"a%2564mbene%25%36%36%2569t%73\"],5,[\"\"]]]]]]],[1,[[6,[\"%63a%6c%65_%72%65%2573u%25%36%63%25%37%34%257%33\"],5,[\"true\"]]]]]]],[function c(e,t){for(var r=t[0]&&t[0].length>0,n=0;r&&n0,n=0;r&&n
    <\\/img><\\/div>

    Your experience is important to us.<\\/h3>
    For optimal functionality on NJ.com, please disable your ad blocker before continuing.\\n
    Already a Subscriber? Log In<\\/a><\\/div><\\/div>