Ex-Worker Gets 3 Months for Fatal Beating at Doggy Daycare
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A former employee of a Seattle-area dog boarding facility has pleaded guilty to killing a customer’s pet, but will not spend additional time in jail, according to reporting from KREM.
Dejean Bowens, 20, admitted on Wednesday to first-degree animal cruelty in connection with the death of Mitch, a dog that had been boarded at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog last August. The dog’s owners had left town for the birth of their first child when the incident occurred.
Court records and reporting from KOMO indicate that Bowens received a sentence of three months in custody from King County Superior Court. However, that time was fully credited for the 165 days he had already spent under electronic home monitoring, meaning he will not serve further incarceration. The sentence represented the maximum penalty permitted under Washington state law.
Investigators say Bowens told authorities the situation began after the dog knocked something over, and he responded by kicking the animal multiple times. Surveillance video reviewed during the investigation reportedly showed him following Mitch as the dog tried to escape and hide under a table while being kicked, according to court documents.
After the incident, Bowens contacted a coworker seeking assistance and then transported the injured dog to an emergency veterinary clinic, KING5 reported. Despite emergency surgery and attempts at CPR, veterinarians were unable to save Mitch.
In court, Mitch’s owner, Neela Brocato, described the dog as a beloved “family member,” while her husband, Anthony Brocato, spoke about the distress of imagining the animal’s final moments. Bowens apologized in court, stating he was “deeply sorry” for what happened.
As part of the felony conviction, Bowens is permanently prohibited from owning or working with animals and from possessing firearms. The Brocato family said they anticipated the outcome due to how Washington law classifies pets as property, and they now plan to advocate for stronger animal cruelty legislation in the state.
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