Cape Town dog owner fuming after award-winning pooch shaved without her permission

A woman from Cape Town was appalled when a dog hotel shaved her Pekingese pooch without her permission recently. The incident ultimately left her award-winning dog sporting a buzz cut instead of a “shiny main” and “fluffy tail”.

Ronel Vorster from Melkbosstrand said her dog is “severely traumatized” from the incident.

She told IOL that it will take two years for her award-winning dog’s coat to grow back, and his days as a top show dog are numbered.

The incident occurred after she and her husband, Arno, returned to Cape Town from a trip to Johannesburg. She found Taro, the Pekingese, shaved without ever giving permission to the professionals at @Frits Dog Hotel in Cape Town, where Taro and his sister, Tamara stayed for three days.

“Taro is also our show dog and two weeks prior to the booking, he won a competition,” Ronel said.

She reportedly paid R2, 166 and thought her pooches safe as the hotel has a live online camera feed for owners to check on their pets.

Ronel was apparently furious when she heard Taro was shaved after being mistaken for a Yorkshire terrier.

“After the incident we took Taro to the vet and had to get medication for his anxiety. He has nightmares, he doesn’t eat, is not playful and hides away. He’s not the same dog I left there, he is depressed.”

“Our dog behaviorist can’t even see him now because he is too traumatized. Taro needs to wear a jersey to keep him warm.

“Pekingese is not a breed known to be cut, as the coat is their asset. The top coat will never grow back to its original state. My dog’s future and competitiveness has been ruined for life. This is not classified as a mistake, it is plain stupidity and shows they’re incompetent,” Ronel said further.

The owner of Frits Dog Hotel, Yanic Klue, reportedly said it was not intentional.

“We made a mistake. Once we realised that, we gave him a professional cut for a Pekingese and offered the owners flowers and a gift voucher as an apology but the owners refused it.”

Ronel said it’s a “blatant lie”.

Ouch!