Alexandria pet groomer charged in dog’s death, accused of abusing several others

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) — Following a months-long investigation, an Alexandria pet groomer is facing charges for the death of one dog and the abuse of several others at a boarding and grooming facility in Del Ray, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria said Tuesday.

Authorities arrested Kevin Sanders on Monday in connection with the alleged abuse at Your Dog’s Best Friends, a full-service dog daycare, after a young golden retriever named Abigail died under his care on July 12, 2024. He was charged with one count of felony cruelty and four class 1 misdemeanors.

The investigation launched after an anonymous former employee of Your Dog’s Best Friends contacted AWLA on Dec. 13, 2024, to report Abigail’s death and the abuse of multiple others that took place while they were being groomed at the facility.

The former employee gave investigators initial video evidence, which reportedly showed that the abuse took place at the hands of one groomer, identified as Sanders.

As a result, AWLA’s Animal Services team, with support from Alexandria police, served a search warrant for additional video evidence in January, seizing more than 600 hours of footage in which Sanders is allegedly seen abusing multiple dogs between Dec. 17, 2024, and Jan. 24, 2025.

Police began interviewing witnesses and charges were sent to a grand jury. The jury certified the charges, leading to Sanders’ arrest.

“Sanders was still employed at Your Dog’s Best Friends at the time of the arrest,” AWLA said upon announcing his arrest.

“No complaint against Your Dog’s Best Friends was made by Abigail’s owner because the events that led to the dog’s death were undisclosed by the facility,” the agency continued.

The owner of Your Dog’s Best Friends, Paul Haire, issued a statement acknowledging that the news of Sanders’ arrest may be distressing, but that the health and safety of every dog is the facility’s “highest priority.” Haire also noted that the golden retriever died while on the grooming table in what a veterinarian had confirmed was a heart attack caused by a congenital heart defect, Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

AWLA noted that it had investigated Your Dog’s Best Friends for a previous complaint in December 2021 after a dog reportedly became sick after boarding at the facility, however the investigation showed a lack of evidence connecting the dog’s illness to its stay at the center.

“We encourage animal guardians to do extensive research when choosing any animal-related grooming, boarding or sitting services or facilities,” said AWLA. “Our Animal Services team has been working diligently on this investigation, and the investigation is ongoing.