A self-proclaimed dog breeder has been accused of severely abusing animals by Arizonan authorities, who allegedly found starved and dead dogs in apartments he owns.
Police in Phoenix teamed up with Humane Society officers to bring criminal charges against John Lewis Kai, 53.
Authorities first became aware of possible animal abuse committed by Kai when tenants of his reported constant barking and yelping coming from a pair of apartments he converted into one space, according to court documents provided to Us Weekly.
Officers and Humane Society staffers also received a report about a dead dog and on December 19, they went to Kai’s apartments to have a look.
According to police documents and court papers, police and Humane Society officials found feces and urine throughout the two units, and the animals had no access to drinking water.
Humane Society staffers saved nine underweight dogs which all had matted fur. Inside the apartment, they also discovered two dog carcasses.
A third dog was found dead outside, in the building’s dumpster, police allege in the documents.
The tenants who took their concerns to police said it appeared Kai was breeding the dogs and selling them. They further claimed Kai would sometimes use a tenant’s cleaner apartment unit to show puppies to potential buyers. None of the people who came by to look at dogs were allowed in the area where the starved dogs were located.
“I feel bad for the animals,” one tenant told KPHO, on the verge of tears. Neighbors who spoke to the station said they were not aware of how severe the abuse was.
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The tenants told KPHO they had told cops Kai “didn’t let [the dogs] out often,” adding they were maybe taken outside twice a day.
Kai was arrested on Tuesday, December 23, and was charged with 16 counts of animal cruelty, including one count related to killing an animal. Under questioning, Kai allegedly admitted to breeding the dogs and reportedly told detectives he “had gotten overwhelmed” with the operation.
Kai allegedly told cops he thinks the three dogs died of parvovirus, a highly contagious virus largely affecting dogs and wolves that is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces.
Police booked Kai into the Maricopa County Jail on a $10,000 bond. If released, he is barred from having any contact with any animals while the outcome of the case is still pending. The animals that were rescued are now in the care of the Humane Society. Their conditions were not known at press time.
The tenants who spoke to KPHO said they hope prosecutors and the courts make sure Kai is held accountable. “I would hope that the court steps in and see this through. He needs to be held accountable. It’s not ok,” one of them said.
The investigation remains active and the case is pending.
If you know of or suspect animal abuse or neglect, you are urged to contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals through their website or call your local animal control officer.
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