Ex-Worker Gets 3 Months for Fatal Beating at Doggy Daycare

A former worker at a Seattle-area dog-boarding business has admitted to fatally attacking a client's pet—but he won't serve any time behind bars, KREM reports. Dejean Bowens pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree animal cruelty in the death of Mitch, a dog boarded at Lazy Dog Crazy Dog in Ballard in August of last year while his owners were away for the birth of their first child. Bowens, 20, was sentenced in King County Superior Court to three months in custody, but the time was credited to 165 days he had already spent on electronic home monitoring. The sentence was the maximum allowed under state law, KOMO reports.

Investigators say Bowens told authorities he kicked Mitch multiple times after the dog knocked something over; surveillance footage showed him following and kicking the dog as it tried to hide under a table, according to court documents. Bowens first contacted a co-worker asking for help before taking the dog to the emergency vet, KING5 reports. Veterinary staff couldn't save Mitch despite emergency surgery and CPR. In court, owner Neela Brocato called Mitch "a family member," while her husband, Anthony, described imagining the dog's fear. Bowens apologized, saying he was "deeply sorry." The felony conviction bars him for life from owning or caring for animals and from legally possessing firearms. The Brocatos, who said they expected the limited sentence because pets are seen as "property" under the law, now plan to campaign for tougher animal-cruelty laws in Washington state.