• The 12-year-old hound was trapped in a metal crate under the hot air
  
• Makeover ended in tragedy when the Lhasa Apso had to be put down
• Neither of the two groomers at the salon were qualified
• WARNING: SOME READERS MAY FIND IMAGES DISTRESSING
  

By Emma Reynolds

PUBLISHED: 12:03 EST, 15 January 2013 | UPDATED: 12:29 EST, 15 January 2013

A helpless dog died after it suffered 'horrific' burns when it was left under an industrial hairdryer by an unqualified groomer.

Dusty, a Lhasa Apso, was trapped in a painfully hot metal crate after an employee at the Essex salon wandered off and forgot about him.

The 12-year-old hound was bathed and clipped as part of his doggy makeover at KayJac Clippers salon in Grays before being placed under the hairdryer.

Excruciating: Dusty's skin was left red and painful after he was taken to the Essex salon for a makeover

Put down: The Lhasa Apso before he was fatally injured at the doggy beauty parlour in Grays

Groomer Victoria Ellis, 38, of Chadwell St Mary, Essex, walked off to answer the phone and forgot about the dog, who was left with red and swollen skin.

Basildon Magistrates’ Court, Essex, heard that the salon’s owner, Jacqueline Ward, 44, told Dusty’s owner to put some cream on the 'small burn'.

But Dusty had to be taken to the vet for his injuries after the botched treatment in July last year 2012.

His condition deteriorated over the following days and his owner took the heart-breaking decision to have him put down.

Dusty had been left in a state of shock from the burns, the court heard.

Neither Ward, of Basildon, or Ellis 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 in their absence at an earlier hearing of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Suffering: Dusty's owner was told to put some cream on the 'small burn' by the Essex salon after the accident

Adored: A healthy Dusty with owner Toni Rixson's sons Callum (left) and Casey (right)

They were fined £1,000 and ordered to do 120 hours of community service and pay £250 of compensation to Dusty’s owner when they appeared for sentencing at court on Friday.

Following the case, the RSPCA released pictures showing the injuries Dusty suffered.

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.'

Shocking: Neither the groomer or the owner of KayJac Clippers, pictured, were qualified

The RSPCA is now calling for the dog grooming industry to be licensed following a spate of similar cases in the past two years.

David Bowles, head of public affairs, said: 'These cases are all very sad.

'Owners are taking their pets to the groomers without the security of knowing how safe their animals are.

'We are calling for the licensing of dog grooming. Without this, pet owners simply cannot be sure that they are leaving their dog in safety.

'Until we have regulation, it is very important owners thoroughly research their choice of groomer to ensure that they can meet their animal’s needs.

'Owners should think about visiting the facility first to ensure staff are qualified and competent.'