UPDATE: Did your pet die after visiting a groomer? Was your pet severely injured? We want to hear your story.

Danielle DiNapoli was shocked to be told her beloved bulldog, Scruffles, was dead just one hour after being dropped off on Dec. 29 for a grooming at a Hunterdon County PetSmart.

DiNapoli said she wasn't told how Scruffles died, and it will take weeks before a necropsy, the canine equivalent to an autopsy, will be complete.

An investigation by NJ Advance Media found that over an eight-day period from Dec. 22-29, at least two dogs died after being dropped off for grooming at the Flemington PetSmart, and a third suffered a back injury.

"I was in shock. You know, you expect to see your dog happy and healthy and groomed, and I got a dead dog," DiNapoli, still grieving and frustrated by the lack of information, said on Monday.

DiNapoli posted her story on Facebook, where others then shared similar experiences at other PetSmarts across the nation. Petsmart said it has launched an internal investigation into Scruffles' death.

In addition to DiNapoli, Tara Fiet and David Bolduc took their dogs to be groomed at the Flemington PetSmart between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. Fiet's dog died, while Bolduc's suffered a back injury, both said.

DiNapoli said she dropped off Scruffles - a healthy 8-year-old bulldog - at 9:45 a.m. By 11 a.m., she had been taken to Flemington Veterinary Hospital, but was dead on arrival.

No PetSmart personnel waited for DiNapoli to arrive at the hospital to answer her questions or offer an explanation, which she calls a "crime in and of itself."

PetSmart refused to answer any questions or give a written report, she said, prompting her to take to Facebook to share her story and start a "Justice for Scruffles" page. The post has gone viral, garnering more than 16,000 shares and 10,000 likes.

"We are truly saddened by the loss of Scruffles," PetSmart said in a statement. "While a comprehensive internal investigation is still ongoing, our initial findings indicate the associates involved followed all policies and procedures consistent with care and services provided to breeds such as bulldogs."

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is actively investigating Scruffles' death and is looking into whether or not to file charges, spokesman Matt Stanton said.

No police report involving PetSmart has been filed in the last month with Raritan Township Police, Capt. Kevin Donovan said.

Pet groomers in N.J. are not required to be licensed, but a bill was introduced in 2014 which would require groomers to pass an exam to be licensed. It stalled in committee, but Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle (D-37th) is expected to reintroduce it in the spring, DiNapoli said.

Bolduc said his shih tzu, George, was badly injured after a PetSmart grooming on Dec. 22. He said PetSmart called him, claiming the dog tried to bite the groomer and needed to be picked up.

Biting was very out of character for the 8-year-old dog, he said, who is regularly groomed elsewhere. By the time they returned to their Lebanon home, Bolduc said George was in extreme pain, arching his back to keep weight off his hind legs.

"I got home and we immediately took him to a vet," Bolduc said, explaining doctors found a back injury, administering heavy steroids and ordered cage confinement for 10 days.

Looking for answers to his dog's worsening injury, Bolduc called PetSmart, asking if there has been a problem or the dog had fallen.

"They assured us nothing has happened. I had an immoble pet," he said. "I'm several hundred dollars into this and looking at much more."

He returned to PetSmart days later to talk to a manager, but was told no one was available. He called PetSmart's corporate headquarters, but didn't get a call back.

After NJ Advance Media called PetSmart for a comment, Bolduc said the corporate office reached out to him, informing they would cover medical expenses and "take care of anything George needs."

"We are saddened to learn of these concerns and have reached out to the pet parents to express our sympathy," PetSmart said in another statement. "We take the health and safety of pets in our care very seriously, and we are working to fully understand the circumstances related to the issues raised by these pet parents."

Feit said she believes PetSmart could be at fault for the death of her dog, Ranger, who died two days after a Dec. 22 grooming at the same location.

Ranger was lethargic after coming home from the groomers, and died on Christmas Eve, leaving her to tell her children on Christmas morning that he had died. She called the store asking if anything happened during the grooming.

"They said nothing, basically just, 'Sorry, but your dog was fine.'"

She was shocked to hear of Scruffles' death, and reached out to DiNapoli.

"When Danielle posted her story, I messaged her and said, 'My dog went there Friday and died Sunday. Is that a coincidence or could something have happened?'" Feit said, still frustrated there are no answers.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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