No paws in service for Hawick dog-grooming parlour hit by theft

A defiant dog-grooming parlour boss hit by a theft over the festive season has refused to let the crooks responsible keep her out of action any longer than necessary and is now back in business.
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Intruders trashed the small unit beside her Hawick home that Lorna Murray runs her company Grooming 4 Paws from last week.

The thieves made off from her salon in Charles Street at Burnfoot with clippers, scissors and other dog-grooming products.

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And in an act of wanton vandalism, they also smashed several items and spread shampoo across the walls of the unit.

Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.
Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.

Lorna, 44, was horrified when she came across that scene of devastation on the morning of Monday, December 30, but was determined not to let that blow keep her out of business a minute longer than necessary.

She said: “I was in bed sleeping at the time. The parlour is in a separate building beside the house, and I never heard anything because it was so windy and my dogs had been barking.

“I was in shock in the morning. I could smell the distinctive smell of shampoo that I only use on my dogs because they are show dogs. I thought ‘how can I smell that?’, then I looked from my back door and I could see the doors open on the building and I thought ‘oh my God’.

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“The shampoo was up and down the walls. It was just trashed. Everything had been swiped off the tables.

Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.
Lorna Murray at Paws 4 Grooming in Hawick.

“The estimated damage is between £1,500 and £2,000, but I have been able to get back up and running within days.

“I got the go-ahead from the insurers quickly so it was just a question of waiting for things to be delivered.

“I needed to replace the bath, which was cracked because they’ve tried to pull it out, the chairs, brushes, blades, shampoos and so on.

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“Maybe they thought there was money in there, and somebody a while back told me there were junkies selling dog-wormers as drugs, but I don’t have any of those because I’m not allowed to administer those to the dogs. That’s just speculation. We just don’t know.”

Lorna Murray's dog-grooming salon after last week's theft.Lorna Murray's dog-grooming salon after last week's theft.
Lorna Murray's dog-grooming salon after last week's theft.

Lorna added: “I’ve got so many dogs and so many people from all over the Borders and from Edinburgh and Newcastle – a lot of people – rely on me so I was determined to get back up and running as soon as possible.

“The theft was hard to come to terms with, but now I want my customers to know that I’m open for business as usual.”

Any potential witnesses to the theft at the salon, set up four years ago, are asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.