Actress Nicola Peltz-Beckham is taking legal action against a Westchester dog groomer that she alleges killed her beloved chihuahua, Nala. The 29-year-old star claims HoundSpa in Mount Kisco was responsible for the death of her pet, which occurred shortly after a routine grooming by an unfit employee.
The groomer in question, Jony Ceballos, is said to have a history of “intentional and malicious abuse of dogs,” according to court documents obtained by TMZ. Peltz-Beckham also blames HoundSpa for keeping Ceballos on staff despite numerous complaints alleging he mistreated animals.
The specific events that took place during the grooming session were not detailed in the lawsuit, but Peltz-Beckham revealed on Instagram that Nala “came out hyperventilating and couldn’t catch her breath.” The actress rushed the 9-year-old dog to a vet, where she died.
Vet records showed that Nala, whom Peltz-Beckham treated “like her own child,” had fluid in her lungs, neurological issues, and a rapid heart rate before her death. HoundSpa has not yet responded to The Post’s request for comment.
Peltz-Beckham has been open about her suspicions that the dog spa was responsible for Nala’s death on social media, even going so far as to claim that her other dog, Angel, now shakes and screams in terror when left alone after a grooming trip at HoundSpa.
She took to Instagram, urging others to be cautious about who they entrust their dogs with, stating “please be careful who you send your dogs to because you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.” Peltz-Beckham also shared her grief over the loss of Nala and her desire to prevent such a tragedy from happening to others.
In another post, she claimed HoundSpa had stopped cooperating with her legal team, and vowed to do everything in her power to ensure “this never happens to another family, because the pain is unbearable.” She expressed her ongoing heartache over the loss of Nala, writing “my brain can’t comprehend where you went. I just feel so much pain.
Peltz-Beckham is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the lawsuit, but has expressed her intention to donate any money received to a dog rescue organization.
