Arrest made after woman says dog ‘smelled like urine’ after paying $4K to have it trained

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Police in Rock Hill arrested and charged a woman after another woman claimed her dog was returned to her malnourished and smelling like urine months after she paid $4,000 to have the animal trained.

Police said Jessica Viscusie turned herself in Wednesday morning after three warrants were taken out against her for treatment of animals.

In November, the pet owner contacted police, saying she had paid for her dog to be trained and groomed by Viscusie at a home on Pinebranch Road. She said Viscusie had her dog since Aug. 10.

[ALSO READ: Investigators say dog trainer left dozens of animals 'malnourished, living in filth']

The dog’s owner said she found the training business, Pack Leader K9 Academy, online. The Better Business Bureau gives it a B+ rating with only a few complaints.

The dog’s owner told officers she spent about $4,000 on grooming, food and training classes.

According to a police report, the woman said Viscusie never trained her dog, and that several other dogs were being fostered inside the home, which she described as filthy with feces on the floor, trash piled up, and smelling of urine.

Officers showed up at the Pinebranch Road home later that day and said they noticed a lot of animals inside the house and in the backyard, and that some of them appeared to be malnourished and “living in unclean conditions.”

Officers got a search warrant and ended up seizing numerous live animals of different species, as well as one dead animal, according to the police department.

The animals were examined and those that appeared to be malnourished were taken to area veterinarians.

Channel 9 spoke with Viscusie, and she said she was trying to clean up her place so she can get the dogs, cats and a python back.

Police determined that the animals suffered from malnourishment and starvation, which is why the warrants were taken out.

Woman says dog 'smelled like urine' after paying $4K to have it trained Woman says dog 'smelled like urine' after paying $4K to have it trained

Cox Media Group