Burglars Snarl Dog Business

Burglars who hit Deanna Bertels’ north Spokane dog grooming shop weren’t satisfied with trashing the place and stealing more than $4,000 worth of equipment.

They left behind extra-special touches, like the stack of Christmas cards they shoved in the toilet. They also rearranged old clipper blades into a word not fit for print.

“It was nasty,” said Bertels, who owns Audubon All Breed Dog and Cat Grooming on West York. “They cleaned me out.”

The burglary occurred sometime Saturday night after closing. The thieves ripped out a wall air conditioner and climbed through the hole, police said.

They swiped 25 pairs of scissors, a basket of towels and all of Bertels’ combs and brushes.

The burglars also took an old dart board and five expensive, electric clippers.

About the only thing they didn’t take was some doggie perfume, she said.

“It’s stuff they’ll probably never get any money for, or have any use for, and it’ll end up in the bottom of a trash can,” said Bertels, 35. “That just makes me sick.”

The single mother spent Monday cleaning up the store and turning away potential walk-in customers.

When the owner of another local dog grooming shop stopped by with a box of brand-new supplies as a gift, Bertels finally was able to groom three dogs.

“They just tore that shop to shreds,” said Chris Doyle, who with his wife, Dina, owns Top Dog in the Valley. “It’s devastating her, but she’s got to keep working. That’s why we bought the stuff.”

Police lifted fingerprints from the shop and candy bar wrappers the burglars tossed on the ground outside.

Bertels called pawn shops and other groomers to alert them to her loss and said she just wants her tools back, no questions asked.

“It took me years to get all of my equipment and I need it,” she said. “My shop is my life, it’s how I get by.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo