West Chester, PA - April 29, 2008 - Animal cruelty charges filed in December against the owner of a mobile dog grooming business have been dropped.

The Chester County SPCA and District Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Randy Wallace, owner of Personal Touch Pet Care Mobile Grooming, after investigators determined that lesions on a client's Shetland sheepdog were caused by a bacterial infection and not a dematting grooming device.

"There was no intent to cause harm to the dog," said Chuck McDevitt, public relations manager at the Chester County SPCA. 

According to a report in yesterday's Daily Local News, Wallace, of the 500 block of Coventry Lane in West Chester,  said he has stopped using a portable bath that was the source of the bacteria. 

"I am in this business because I love and want to help dogs, not hurt them," Wallace said.