Court papers detail untimely dog death

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) - A dog groomer in Wilbraham is charged with killing a poodle and court documents detail the events leading up to the untimely death. Meanwhile, a family in Springfield is mourning the loss of their pup.

Ruz Martir-Lopez brought her dog Rusty to Lotte's Professional Dog Groomers in Wilbraham for a haircut last month; that was the last time she saw him alive.

"She told me Rusty had a seizure," Martir-Lopez said.

Rusty died at Lotte's that November 26th afternoon, but he didn't have a seizure at all.

According to court papers obtained by the 22News I-Team, 51-year-old Sharon Kozik, the owner of Lotte's, confessed to police that she hit the dog after they told her the poodle had skull fractures.

The 22News I-Team went to the accused dog killer to hear her side of the story, but, a woman slammed and locked the door before we had the chance to ask. She told us through the glass she had no comment.

According to court papers, police asked Kozik what made her hit the dog, Kozik apparently said she had had a 'spat' with her husband that week, and it just happened.

Sharon Kozik is now facing animal abuse charges. If convicted, she could be looking at time in jail, but it's a lifetime of regret for the family who dropped their dog off for a haircut appointment that ultimately ended with an untimely death.

"He was the best dog I could have ever had, he was so good," Martir-Lopez said. "He was a part of us, he will always be a part of us."

"If you're looking at this Sharon, you didn't have no right to do this to my baby, you didn't have any right to lie to me the way you did," Martir-Lopez said.

Kozik is scheduled to arraigned in Palmer District Court on Monday.

Lotte's Professional Dog Groomers on Boston Road is still open.