Buncombe County -- May 8. 2026: Four employees of a Swannanoa boarding facility now face felony animal cruelty charges following the deaths of two dogs and allegations of mistreatment of other animals. The charges stem from an investigation into Inner Knowing Canine Connections, a boarding and training kennel located in Swannanoa, North Carolina.
Lillian Nichole Sparks, Tiffany Dawn Jourdain, Brianne Michelle Hunt, and Dianna Hope Hall were arrested and charged in connection with the incident. All four individuals face felony charges of altering, stealing, or destroying criminal evidence and felony conspiracy. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Crimes Unit is leading the ongoing investigation.
Additional charges have been filed against Sparks, including two counts of killing an animal by starvation and five counts of cruelty to animals. Jourdain faces two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges for instigating cruelty to animals and one count of animal cruelty. Jourdain, listed as a trainer on the kennel's website, was accused of hitting a dog in the face with a metal bowl and kicking and hitting it with her hands while recording, allegedly to train employees.
The charges are linked to the starvation deaths of two Siberian Huskies. A necropsy performed on the deceased dogs revealed no food in their gastrointestinal tracts and severe dehydration. Authorities allege Sparks intentionally deprived the huskies and other animals of food and water. Other animals, including dogs, sheep, chickens, guineas, ducks, and degus, were found to have suffered severe weight loss due to lack of food.
Further allegations include Hunt washing the remains of one deceased husky to alter evidence. Sparks, Jourdain, and Hall are accused of cleaning the crime scene with knowledge that an investigation was imminent. The alleged offenses occurred on April 19, 2026, with charges announced between May 7 and May 8, 2026.
Bonds were secured for all individuals. Jourdain and Sparks each received a $25,000 bond, while Hunt and Hall were each issued a $5,000 bond. No trial date or pleas have been reported as the legal proceedings are in their initial stages following the arrests in Buncombe County.