Dog died after a groomer left it to burn under an industrial dryer Eventually his owner had to take the heartbreaking decision to have him put down, the court heard. Neither Ward, of Basildon, or Ellis of Chadwell St Mary, Essex, were qualified dog groomers at the time of the incident. Ward was not in the salon at the time, but she and Ellis were both found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. They were both fined £1,000 and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service and to pay £250 of compensation to Dusty's owner. Following the case the RSPCA called for tighter controls on the dog grooming industry. Lewis Taylor, an RSPCA inspector, said: "This was a horrific case which could so easily have been prevented had Dusty not been left unattended. Although such cases aren't deliberate, owners entrust the care of their beloved animals to dog groomers and deserve to know they are leaving their pet in safe hands. Although Ward was not there when the incident happened, business owners do have a duty to ensure that animals do not suffer whilst in the care of their staff.