Seattle — A routine kennel stay for a black Labrador named Mitch ended in tragedy after an employee allegedly responded to a harmless accident with extreme violence. Surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement shows Mitch gently bumping into an object in the early morning hours of August 3. What happened next was unforgivable: the employee, later identified as Dejean Cornelius Bowens, reportedly kicked and punched Mitch repeatedly as he cowered and tried to take cover.
Bowens did not rush Mitch to treatment. Instead, he waited over an hour before transporting the severely injured dog to a veterinary clinic. By then, Mitch had suffered internal bleeding and a suspected kidney rupture. Veterinarians performed CPR repeatedly, but the damage was irreversible. They later told authorities that Mitch might have survived had care arrived sooner.
👉 SIGN THE PETITION to demand mandatory mental health services and lifetime bans on animal ownership for those convicted of such cruelty.
A Shelter’s Betrayal & a Demand for Accountability
Mitch’s family had trusted the kennel with their beloved pet while preparing for the arrival of their new baby. Instead, that trust was shattered. Bowens was later charged with first-degree animal cruelty, a felony under Washington state law, for his actions. KOMO+1 He pleaded not guilty and is currently out on electronic monitoring, awaiting trial. KING 5+1…