South Carolina: Shelly Vinson, owner of Classy Pet Grooming, killed John Johnson's Border Collie

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A 71-year-old man who dropped his dog off at a grooming business and then suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, says when he was finally able to go pick up his dog several days later, he found the Border Collie dead in a kennel inside the business.

The Union Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the dog's death that happened sometime between May 2 and May 8.

John Johnson, of Whitmire, told police that he had dropped his dog off at Classy Pet Grooming on the South Duncan Bypass in Union two weeks ago.

Johnson said he became ill, and last Wednesday suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. He said he tried repeatedly to contact Shelly Vinson, the owner of Classy Pet Grooming, but he was unable to reach her.

Johnson said on Tuesday he went to the business to check on his dog, no one was there, so he looked through a window and saw his dog, which appeared to be dead, inside a kennel, so he called police.

The incident report said that the police officer saw the dead Border Collie, along with two other dogs that were inside the business and two dogs that were outside in a kennel.

While Johnson and the officer were at the business, two women arrived who said they were there to meet Vinson. While the officer was talking with the women, one of them got a call from Vinson.

The officer got on the phone with Vinson. She told the officer that she had tried to take Johnson's dog for a walk on a leash earlier in the day, but it got away from her and ran away. She said she later found the dog down a nearby hill, dead under some bushes, so she picked it up and carried it back to the business and put it in the kennel.

Vinson said she turned the air conditioner down low "so it wouldn't stink inside the business."

Vinson said she tried to call Johnson's sister, but was unable to reach her. She told the officer she also called a veterinarian, as well as animal control during the time that the dog was missing. Vinson told the officer she was out of town and was not coming to the business.

Union Police Chief Sam White was called to the scene, and he and the officer entered the building.

The incident report said they found the interior of the business to be "unsanitary," and they confirmed that the dog was dead in the kennel.

An animal control officer removed the other four dogs from the business. Two of the dogs have since been returned to their owner.

(WYFF - May 9, 2012)