VISTA — The owner of Angel Paws Pet Cremation in San Marcos has been charged with felony grand theft after failing to refund several customers who never received their pets’ cremated remains, including some who were given ashes that turned out not to be from their pet, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office said.
Christopher Settle, 39, was arrested on Dec. 2 and arraigned in court on Dec. 10. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His business closed suddenly in September, leaving many customers still without their pets’ ashes.
The DA’s Office has identified 20 victims who paid for pet cremation services at Angel Paws between July and September, but never received their animals’ ashes. Three victims received remains that they believed to be from their pet, until they later discovered that their animals were still intact at the business.
The combined financial loss for the 20 victims is over $4,700, the DA’s Office said.
“These pet owners trusted this business to handle their pets’ remains with dignity and respect but instead were denied that consideration,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “The owner is being held accountable for his actions thanks to the hard work of our consumer protection prosecution team.”
According to the DA’s Office, Settle continued to accept animals for cremation at Angel Paws during the summer even after power to the business had been shut off due to non-payment. His permit to operate an incinerator had also expired.
While the power was out, several animals were wrapped in plastic and blankets and stored outside of freezers. In July, San Marcos Code Enforcement began receiving complaints about a strong odor coming from the business.
The city executed an abatement warrant at the business on Sept. 20, and Sheriff’s deputies also executed a search warrant in early October.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received 46 customer inquiries between September and December regarding Angel Paws, according to the DA’s Office.
Several additional customers are not included on the victim list because their veterinary clinics outsourced cremations to Angel Paws, the DA’s Office said. Angel Paws picked up deceased pets from ABC Veterinary Hospital, Julian Pet Clinic, Pets Place Animal Hospital, and Santa Fe Pet Clinic, but never sent invoices for payment.
Settle’s next hearing is on March 10 in Vista Superior Court.
