KEVIN MALIK SANDERS former employee at Your Dog’s Best Friends, charged with killing one dog in his care and abusing others

- Virginia, USA -

On December 13, 2024, the Animal Services team of Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, was contacted by an anonymous former employee of Your Dog’s Best Friends, an animal boarding and grooming facility in the Del Ray neighborhood of the City of Alexandria.

The former employee reported the death of one dog, as well as the abuse inflicted on several other dogs while they were being groomed at Your Dog’s Best Friends.

Additionally, the former employee provided initial video evidence depicting the cruelty that took place at the hands of one groomer.

In a press release provided to Voice For Us by Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan L. Porter, the groomer was identified as 29-year-old KEVIN MALIK SANDERS (pictured).

On January 24, 2025, with the assistance of the Alexandria Police Department, the Animal Services team served a search warrant for additional video evidence. According to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, the search warrant led to the seizure of more than 600 hours of video footage.

As part of the investigation, the Chief of Animal Services and Alexandria police officers began interviewing witnesses.

In late June/early July, charges were sent to the Grand Jury for the City of Alexandria for consideration.

Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan L. Porter announced that on July 14, 2025, the Grand Jury returned a five-count indictment against SANDERS charging him with “one felony count of animal cruelty resulting in the death of a companion dog and four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty of a companion dog not resulting in death”, states the press release.

SANDERS was arrested on July 21, 2025, and is being held without bond at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria explained in their press release that the felony charge refers to the death of a young Golden Retriever named Abigail which occurred on July 12, 2024, and the misdemeanor charges refer to the abuse to other dogs seen in the seized video evidence, which spanned from December 17, 2024, to January 24, 2025.

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria said that when SANDERS was arrested, he was still employed at Your Dog’s Best Friends.

According to Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, Abigail’s family did not file a complaint against Your Dog’s Best Friends because “the events that led to the dog’s death were undisclosed by the facility.”

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria encourages animal guardians “to do extensive research when choosing any animal-related grooming, boarding or sitting services or facilities.” Click here for a list of things to consider and ask when choosing an animal boarding or animal grooming facility.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from press releases provided to Voice For Us.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

SANDERS’ mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

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