Former Doggy Daycare Worker Sentenced for Fatal Attack on Client's Pet

Dejean Bowens pleaded guilty to animal cruelty but received only 3 months in custody for killing Mitch the dog.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:00pm

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An extreme close-up of a dog collar against a pitch-black background, the harsh flash creating a stark, gritty aesthetic that conveys the somber, investigative mood of the story without depicting violence.The tragic death of Mitch the dog at a Seattle-area doggy daycare has reignited calls for tougher animal cruelty laws.Seattle Today

A former employee at a Seattle-area dog boarding business, Dejean Bowens, has been sentenced to 3 months in custody for fatally attacking a client's dog named Mitch last year. Bowens pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty after surveillance footage showed him kicking the dog multiple times. Despite the felony conviction and lifetime ban on owning animals, the Brocato family, Mitch's owners, say the limited sentence reflects how pets are viewed as 'property' under current laws.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around animal cruelty laws and the need for stronger legal protections for pets, which are often treated as property rather than family members under the law. The Brocatos plan to campaign for tougher animal cruelty laws in Washington state following this incident.

The details

Dejean Bowens, a 20-year-old former employee at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty for fatally attacking a client's dog named Mitch last August. Surveillance footage showed Bowens kicking Mitch multiple times after the dog knocked something over, with Bowens then contacting a co-worker for help before taking the injured dog to the emergency vet. Despite emergency surgery and CPR, veterinary staff were unable to save Mitch.

  • Mitch was boarded at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog in August 2025 while his owners were away.
  • Dejean Bowens pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty on April 13, 2026.
  • Bowens was sentenced on April 14, 2026 to 3 months in custody, the maximum allowed under state law.

The players

Dejean Bowens

A 20-year-old former employee at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog doggy daycare in Seattle who pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty for fatally attacking a client's dog.

Mitch

A dog boarded at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog in Seattle who was fatally attacked by employee Dejean Bowens in August 2025.

Neela Brocato

The owner of Mitch, the dog killed at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog, who called Mitch a 'family member'.

Anthony Brocato

The husband of Neela Brocato, Mitch's owner, who described imagining the dog's fear during the fatal attack.

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What they’re saying

“Mitch was a family member.”

— Neela Brocato, Mitch's owner

“I'm deeply sorry.”

— Dejean Bowens

What’s next

The Brocatos, Mitch's owners, plan to campaign for tougher animal cruelty laws in Washington state following this incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger legal protections for pets, which are often treated as property rather than family members under current laws. The limited sentence for Dejean Bowens's felony conviction reflects the challenges in securing meaningful accountability for acts of animal cruelty.