A former Seattle kennel worker has pleaded guilty to beating a black labrador to death while the dog was in his care, receiving the maximum penalty allowed under Washington state law and prompting the victim’s family to vow legislative action to strengthen animal cruelty protections.
Superior Court Judge Ken Schubert sentenced 20-year-old Dejean Bowens to three months for one felony count of animal cruelty in the first degree, the harshest sentence available under current state law. Bowens, who has no prior criminal record, is also banned from contact with animals for life. He will receive credit for time served under electronic home monitoring since his arrest in August.
The case centred on the death of Mitch, a black labrador belonging to Neela and Anthony Brocato, who had left their dog at the former Lazy Dog Crazy Dog kennel in Ballard while they welcomed home their newborn baby girl. The couple addressed the court directly before sentencing, describing the impact of Mitch’s death on their family. “You not only killed Mitch, but you destroyed the lives of everyone who loved him,” Neela Brocato told Bowens. “You took a life whose absence is felt in every room, every holiday, every family outing, and every ordinary day that is no longer ordinary because he is gone.” Anthony Brocato described Mitch as the family’s constant companion. “He was our shadow, our good morning, and our good night. He was our baby boy,” he said.
Bowens apologised in court before sentencing was handed down. “I’m not asking for forgiveness, I don’t ask for mercy or anything. I just would like to be able to say this in front of everyone, I really am sorry, and whatever judgment comes here today, I’m accepting it,” he told the court. His mother, Jeanne Russell, also addressed the judge, saying there was no excuse for her son’s actions and that he had been dealing with grief following a car crash. “He loved animals. He was going through a lot and just snapped,” Russell said. “Mitch, rest in peace. He deeply sincerely apologises.”
Judge Schubert called the beating “inexplicable.” “We do the special things for dogs because our society loves them so much. Everyone knows someone that has a black lab. That was my dad’s dog. So I just don’t understand. I am at a loss,” Schubert said.
Outside the courtroom, the Brocato family said they accepted the sentence but described it as only “some justice” and said they intend to push for changes in Olympia. “I think there’s a lot of room for improvement with Washington laws,” Neela Brocato said. King County prosecuting attorney spokesperson Casey McNerthney agreed. “It doesn’t feel like enough because pets, dogs are a member of the family and the emotional resonance that a cruelty case like this causes is not made up by three months,” McNerthney said. He added that changing the law is the only path to increasing penalties and expressed confidence that his office would support such an effort.
Anthony Brocato said the case had been a wake-up call. “They are a very important part of our society, part of our families,” he said. “I think there’s an opportunity here that Neela and I are going to pursue to spread awareness and from a legislative or law standpoint.”
