Target: Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney, Washington
Goal: Seek the maximum lawful penalties, a long-term ban on animal ownership and animal-care employment, and full restitution in the case of a dog allegedly kicked and punched at a daycare, leading to its death.
A boarding facility worker allegedly brutalized a family’s dog after the animal knocked something over, according to charging documents. Surveillance video purportedly shows the employee repeatedly kicking and punching the dog—even as the terrified animal tried to hide under a table. More than an hour later, the grievously injured dog was reportedly taken to an emergency clinic, where veterinary staff said he arrived mentally unresponsive with internal bleeding and suspected organ damage; despite CPR attempts, he did not survive.
Prosecutors allege the assault was a deliberate, prolonged attack on a defenseless animal entrusted to professional care. Witness statements reportedly include an admission that the dog was kicked, and investigators say the footage corroborates the account. The delay in seeking care allegedly worsened the dog’s chances, according to veterinary staff cited in the case file. This incident has shattered public trust in pet-care settings and led the company to shutter locations amid outrage.
When an animal in safekeeping is allegedly beaten to death, accountability must be unequivocal. This case calls for the strongest response the law allows: felony-level consequences if proven, restitution for veterinary and related costs, and court orders permanently barring the defendant from owning animals or working around them. To protect animals and restore public trust, demand the prosecuting authority pursue the maximum sentence and comprehensive protective conditions.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prosecutor Manion,
We are writing regarding the case in which a boarding facility employee allegedly kicked and punched a client’s dog after the pet knocked something over, with surveillance video said to show the assault continuing as the dog hid under a table. Veterinary records indicate the dog arrived more than an hour later in catastrophic condition—mentally unresponsive, with internal bleeding and suspected organ injury—and could not be revived.
These allegations describe a sustained, intentional attack on a defenseless animal entrusted to professional care. Witness accounts reportedly include an admission that the dog was kicked, and investigators say video corroborates what happened. Veterinary staff have stated the delay in seeking treatment allegedly reduced the dog’s chances of survival. The cruelty described here is not a “mistake”—it is, allegedly, a violent act that ended a family’s companion’s life and deeply undermined public trust.
We respectfully urge your office to seek the maximum lawful penalties if the accused is convicted, including restitution, a long-term prohibition on animal ownership, and a ban on working with or having access to animals. We also ask that you pursue court-ordered counseling/anger-management and any other conditions that will help prevent future harm. Meaningful accountability in this case can both honor the life lost and deter similar alleged violence against animals in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: NSwebweaver
