Dog Found Paralyzed After Grooming Appointment; N.J. Couple Furious

CRANFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey couple said they bought a perfectly healthy dog in for his routine grooming apartment, but when they picked him up, he was paralyzed.

Now, as CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, the dog has been euthanized and the groomer is facing charges.

"A part of me died when Ozzie died," said Felicia Schusterman.

Felicia and David Schusterman are devastated by the death of their beloved dog, Ozzie. They said they dropped off their 6-year-old West Highland white terrier for a grooming appointment at Furever Friends in Cranford, New Jersey on Saturday, May 13 – and when they picked him up, he was paralyzed.

"I said, 'What happened,'" David Schusterman said. "He said: 'I don't know. You'd better check -- his back or his back legs might be broken.'"

"They said he lost his footing in the tub. And from that the dog is paralyzed?" Felicia Schusterman added. "I don't know."

The Schustermans said they took the dog to Garden State veterinarians.

"They took X-rays and then they told us the bad news," David Schusterman said. "They said he got maybe a cracked disc and his back legs are paralyzed."

The Schustermans said surgery held no guarantees – so they made the painful decision to euthanize him.

"I'm pissed off! I'm not angry, I'm pissed off that they didn't call me," David Schusterman said. "By them doing what they did -- they were very negligent."

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Police are charging Furever Friends with causing Ozzie's death and failing to get him medical help.

We tried to reach the owners of Furever Friends by phone at the shop, but the shop was closed Monday. Right now, the grooming shop is only facing civil charges -- not criminal -- because the business owners and their attorneys have not told police who was grooming Ozzie when he was injured.

"Everywhere I go, this is where Ozzie was. You know, like, it's hard to take a walk anymore because we always had Ozzie with us," Felicia Schusterman said.

"He was my best friend," Ozzie Schusterman added.

The Schustermans said Ozzie can never be replaced.

Furever Friends did not respond to CBS2's request for comment. The groomer is due in court in July and faces up to $7,000 in fines.