City to study requiring animal groomers to install cameras

El Paso City Council unanimously approved moving forward with a study to determine if the city can, or should require animal groomers to be licensed and install cameras in their businesses.

City Rep. Claudia Ordaz-Perez has proposed the ordinance change. “The goal is to create reasonable regulations that are fair both to the clients and the groomers,” said City Representative Claudia Ordaz-Perez. “Of course, I would encourage safety, sanitation and handling procedures and so on and so forth.”

Mayor Dee Margo, Rep. Cassandra Hernandez-Brown and Rep. Michiel Noe all expressed concern about the cost to business owners and the scope of the types of businesses that would be required to comply.

“If we are going to license them, that assumes that we are going to require some training. Who is going to handle all that and at what cost to the city,” asked City Representative Michiel Noe.

In January, El Paso police charged local groomer Lucia Janeth Gonzalez Sifuente with cruelty to non-livestock animals after she was accused of slapping a 13-year-old female schnauzer named Zia, according to the criminal complaint.

Zia suffered “sustained severe scleral hemorrhage to the right eye,” according to the complaint. Zia’s owner confirmed to ABC-7 that she had to put the dog down in December because of her quality of life.

Zia’s owner spoke at Tuesday’s city council meeting and shared her story. She said the abuse to her dog was caught on video where her dog was groomed. She explained that the video helped lead to an arrest in the case.

“Currently, there is nothing preventing this groomer or other abusive groomers from being hired, or worse, opening up their own shop. There is nothing alerting business owners that the groomer they are about to hire has pending animal cruelty charges,” said Stacey Massey, a concerned pet owner.

“My heart really sank for the family,” Ordaz-Perez said.

The councilwoman said Title VII doesn’t have enough protection for animals.

“This is to find a balance,” Ordaz-Perez said. “To really protect the businesses themselves and the clients.”

Several El Paso groomers have already installed cameras in their businesses, like EPK9 Stay and Play on Gateway Boulevard.

“It protects the animals, because obviously they can’t tell you if something’s gone wrong,” said Toni Hernandez, a new customer. “It (gives us) peace of mind knowing that we can always take a look at both our pets when we do board them.”

Thanks to multiple cameras, dog owners can view their dogs in the grooming or boarding areas at the business on the web or on their smartphones.

“She’s obviously part of the family,” Frank Hernandez said about his dog, Lexi. “(We chose) this place with the security and the cameras, to monitor and even board her and still be able to be away and somewhat in contact with her.”