A dog groomer in Temple Terrace is now facing an animal cruelty charge after he was seen on video abusing a small Shih Tzu, according to Temple Terrace police. 

Joshua Allen Mitchell, 34, can be seen on surveillance video slamming the dog’s head on a metal table after it urinated on him, according to the incident report. 

The incident happened on Feb. 19 at the Pet Wize store on N. 56th Street in Temple Terrace, police say. 

Police say Mitchell then took the dog over to be washed and when he finished, picked it up by the leash, causing it to dangle in the air by the neck. Investigators have not released that part of the video. 

Lynda Ciesla, the dog’s owner says her dog “Rookie” was left with bloodshot eyes and when she picked him up, she knew immediately that something was wrong. 

The investigating officer confirmed with two veterinarians that trauma to the head caused blood vessels in the dog’s eyes to burst, according to the report. 

“I cried for weeks. I thought, ‘oh my God I took my baby up there for them to abuse him and I paid for it.’ It was a bad feeling,” Ciesla said.

The state attorney’s office finished evaluating the case Wednesday and believes Mitchell intentionally committed acts of cruelty, causing unnecessary pain or suffering. 

Mitchell is facing a felony charge of conservation-animals cause cruel death pain and suffering. 

“He was an independent contractor who worked here a short time and we released him after that incident,” Nick Trianta, owner of Pet Wize, said.

Trianta says Ciesla threatened his employees. 

“We got threats, employees lives were threatened immediately, the same day and the next day and for the next three weeks,” Trianta said.

Ciesla denies making any threats, but says others might have called. 

Mitchell’s attorney Mike Gonzalez hasn’t seen the video but says, “It seems like it’s something that was certainly not intentional and not a pattern of behavior by the groomer or the business.” 

“Mitchell doesn’t feel like he did anything wrong,” Gonzalez said.

A News Channel 8 crew went to Brooksville to track Mitchell down for a response to the video. The entrance to the address police had on file was locked and blocked to visitors. 

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