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CHRISTY AUFDEMORTE, Pike County dog groomer, accused of abusing dogs in her care while intoxicated

Updated: Aug 24, 2023

- Indiana, USA -


The Petersburg Police Department arrested 44-years-old CHRISTY AUFDEMORTE (pictured), owner of Doggie Styles Pet Grooming. AUFDEMORTE is accused of abusing dogs in her care at the business on 709 E. Main Street in Petersburg while intoxicated.

Police said in a brief statement that the arrest is the result of “a multi-week investigation, into multiple public complaints.”


44News reports that it all started in June when a 911 caller reported possible animal abuse at the grooming salon. The reporting party said they had been talking to AUFDEMORTE about working at Doggie Styles Pet Grooming and AUFDEMORTE asked them to come in right away.

Upon arrival at the facility, the reporting party saw several little dogs shaking and trembling, “and that Aufdemorte seemed to be drunk or under the influence of something”, reports 44News.


According to the reporting party, AUFDEMORTE was cursing at the dogs and was handling them in an abusive and rough manner.


As stated in court documents, on or about August 5, 2023, AUFDEMORTE “did knowingly or intentionally torture” a male Shih Tzu named Bo by shoving him from a grooming table multiple times and letting him hang from a noose-style tether, causing bulging eyes and drooling.

Court documents further state that AUFDEMORTE “did knowingly or intentionally abuse” Bo “by repeatedly striking the canine in and about the head with scissors.”


Bo’s guardian, Ms. Karla Martinez explained to WFIE she took Bo to Doggie Styles Pet Grooming Salon to be groomed and when she picked him up, he was acting strange. Ms. Martinez said: “I was holding him and he was nervous. Every time she would walk by him, he would growl and show his teeth and that’s not Bo.” Ms. Martinez added that Bo is still having trouble swallowing but he is doing better.


Court documents additionally stated that on or about August 8, 2023, AUFDEMORTE “did knowingly abuse” a dog in her care by allowing him/her to hang from a noose style tether causing him/her to choke. AUFDEMORTE then abused another dog by shoving him/her from a grooming table, “all while she was drinking and in an agitated state.”


When Police brought AUFDEMORTE in for questioning on Friday, August 11, 2023, she denied that any of the abuse occurred at her business.


Police said that AUFDEMORTE, who had been using the alias of CARRIE RUSSELL on Facebook, is facing one felony count of cruelty to an animal/torture and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal.


AUFDEMORTE is being held in the Pike County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

AUFDEMORTE is also facing criminal charges in Texas and California.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



AUFDEMORTE’s mugshot provided to Voice For by the Pike County Sheriff's Office.





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