Nicola Peltz Beckham has filed a lawsuit against Hound Spa grooming services, claiming that they killed her Chihuahua, Nala.
The actress claims that a dog groomer named Johnny Ceballos has a history of “intentional and malicious abuse of dogs” and that Nala was injured and suffered severe physical pain after exiting Hound Spa's mobile groomer van, according to documents obtained by the court. TMZAccording to TMZ, Peltz-Beckham also named Hound Spa's owner, Deborah “Deb” Gittleman, for allowing Ceballos to remain employed at her company, claiming that there were previous complaints about Ceballos' mistreatment of animals owned by other clients.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 3, 2024: Nicola Peltz Beckham arrives at the premiere of the film Lola at the Regency Bruin Theatre on February 3, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/Getty Images)
According to TMZ, the actress is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and said she plans to donate any money she may receive to dog rescue organizations.
Peltz-Beckham said she was struggling emotionally with Nala's death, especially after watching her dog die while trying to rush her to the vet after a terrifying grooming experience.
The actress said she treated her beloved Nala “like her own child” and is now dealing with the aftereffects of her unexpected loss. According to TMZ, she claimed her other dog, Angel, is also distressed without Nala, trembling and screaming in fear when left alone.
When the incident first occurred, Peltz-Beckham shared a post about her dog's death on her Instagram page, speaking of the depth of her loss. She hired an attorney shortly after the incident and informed fans in June that she would be taking legal action. She blamed the groomer from the start for Nala's death, and said that while she initially posted about Nala's death to raise awareness, she chose to take legal action to prevent this tragedy from impacting the lives of others. According to TMZ, she said she decided to move forward with the lawsuit after realizing there were other pet owners who had faced similar situations.
“I have dedicated most of my life to rescuing dogs and I cannot in good conscience allow these horrific acts to happen to more families,” Peltz Beckham said.
“I am committed to pushing for reforms and legislation so that no one has to go through this heartbreak,” she said, according to TMZ. (Related article: Actress Angie Harmon sues delivery man who allegedly shot and killed her dog while pretending to be someone else)
The famous actress is married to Brooklyn Beckham, the son of David Beckham and Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham.
