COLE KAMRATH, former Dogtopia employee, arrested on accusations of violently abusing a senior dog during a grooming appointment

- New York, USA -

The SPCA Westchester announced that its Humane Law Enforcement Unit (HLE) arrested COLE KAMRATH of Peekskill in connection with an incident that occurred at Dogtopia, a dog daycare business in Mount Kisco.

According to a press release from SPCA Westchester, KAMRATH was an employee of Dogtopia at the time of the incident.

The incident came to light after a 14-pound Rat Terrier named Milo returned home following an appointment at Dogtopia, where his family noticed that he wasn’t walking properly, was constantly sleeping, and had lost his appetite.

Milo’s family rushed him to a local veterinarian, who discovered “bruising all along Milo’s torso, indicative of a recent trauma,” according to the press release.

SPCA Westchester’s HLE Unit obtained a video of Milo during his grooming appointment at Dogtopia on July 26, 2026.

The hard-to-watch video, shared by SPCA Westchester on its Facebook page, reportedly shows KAMRATH “violently slamming” Milo onto a grooming table during a nail trimming. Milo is subsequently seen collapsing as he loses consciousness.

KAMRATH was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. He is scheduled to appear in Mount Kisco Court on September 24, 2026.

According to SPCA Westchester, Dogtopia immediately terminated KAMRATH’s employment after the video was discovered.

Shannon Laukhuf, SPCA Westchester’s Chief Executive Officer, said in a written statement: “We are extremely grateful that Milo’s abuser was captured on video and that this horrific act of cruelty was reported to the SPCA’s HLE Unit. It is deeply disturbing that someone in a profession dedicated to caring for animals would so deliberately and viciously harm one.”

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace spoke about the allegations in a Facebook post, saying: “As a dog lover and owner, I am appalled by the cruel and callous conduct alleged in this case. When someone is entrusted with the care of another person’s beloved pet, they have a responsibility to treat that animal with kindness and respect. I am grateful to our partners at SPCA Westchester for their diligent investigation and working closely with my office’s Animal Cruelty Coordinator, and I commend Dogtopia Daycare for taking swift action upon learning of the alleged abuse of sweet Milo. Our animals depend on us to protect them and speak for them, and there is never an excuse for subjecting an animal to this kind of cruelty.”

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is based on information released by the SPCA Westchester. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

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