MOORESVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) – The owner of a pet grooming and boarding facility at the center of recent controversy was fined by the state for several violations.
Pamela Byars, owner of Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa in Mooresville, was fined $1,900 in civil penalties by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veterinary Division on Aug. 13. The fine is for 14 reported violations.
Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks due to a dog escaping their facility, and separate animal abuse allegations.
Here’s a look at those recent situations, and a breakdown of the business’ reported violations.
Kota’s escape
A handful of the violations reported on Aug. 13 were related to the escape of a dog named Kota in July.
Sheldon Hipps, Kota’s owner, said he dropped Kota and another of his dogs off at Classy Critters on a Monday. Hipps said he was called on Wednesday and told about Kota’s escape.
Kota was found on Sunday. During his escape, he was hit by a car and injured.
Inspectors allege that staff did not document Kota’s escape properly, despite having discussed that requirement with her before. They also said officials were not notified of his escape within 48 hours, as required by the state.
[Previous coverage: Iredell County family reunites with dog days after he got out of day care facility]
Abuse allegations
None of the violations reported this month appeared to be related to videos of alleged animal abuse captured in July.
The videos appeared to show employee Kirsten Taylor abusing pets while grooming them. In the videos, a person believed to be Taylor could be seen hitting and shoving multiple dogs.
Taylor was arrested on July 23 and charged with four counts of felony animal abuse.
[Previous coverage: Woman accused of abusing pets at Iredell County pet grooming business]
Byars declined to be interviewed by WBTV at the time of Taylor’s arrest, but did say that Taylor had been fired and that the incident was not a representation of her business.
Violations reported
The state reported several violations related to the dog grooming and boarding business. Those violations varied in severity, and included:
- Not signing two of the dogs in or out. This violation was previously cited in 2023 and five months ago.
- Failure to maintain the required documentation for medications administered on July 31 and Aug. 1-5, 2025. This violation was previously cited on March 31.
- Failure to properly document the administration of medications.
- Failure to document the escape of the dog named Kota on July 30, in the kennel’s incident log. Inspectors allege that requirement was previously discussed with Byars, and that an inspector sent two emails to the kennels she inspected to remind them of the requirement.
- Failure to notify officials of Kota’s escape within 48 hours.
- Failure to properly store clean laundry/bedding.
- When discussing Kota’s escape, Byars allegedly said that she had just ordered locks for the new kennels, but when two inspectors asked for the invoice, she said the locks came with the kennels.
- Failure to provide proper drainage to avoid standing water in the exercise yards.
- Failure to provide surfaces impervious to moisture. This violation was previously cited in March.
- Failure to replace or cover damaged wood in the back door frame.
- Inner fencing of the outside exercise yards did not meet the minimum height requirements.
- Failure to construct primary enclosures to prevent dogs from escaping. Allegedly, Byars failed to use the locks she had in her possession to prevent the escape of Kota, who was hit by a car during his escape.
- Failure to properly clean enclosures twice daily.
- Failure to renew the comingling agreements for the two large dogs yearly. This violation was cited in 2023.
Byars was given 60 days to either pay the penalty assessment, or file a petition for appeal.
You can read the full notice from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture below:
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