Jovon Hawkins, Former Dog Care Employee Pleads Guilty in the Death of a Dog
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Defendant, an Employee of a Local Boarding Facility, Cruelly Kicked and Stomped a 4-Year-Old Dog, Resulting in His Death
WASHINGTON – Jovon Hawkins, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty, for causing the death of Appa, a 4-year-old Shih Tzu mix, on May 27, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
According to the government’s evidence, two local DC residents boarded their dog, a 4-year-old white Shih Tzu named Appa at City Dogs, a dog day care and boarding facility located at 301 H Street NE, Washington, D.C., over Memorial Day weekend in 2024. Hawkins, an employee of City Dogs, was alone in the facility on May 27, 2024. At approximately 7:40 p.m., Hawkins cornered Appa and a tan chihuahua that were sitting on a dog bed. Hawkins leaned over and reached towards the dogs. One of the dogs reacted by barking and the chihuahua fled from Hawkins. Hawkins then moved the dog bed out of the corner with his left foot and used his hands to brace himself against the wall and kicked Appa. As Appa yelped, Hawkins stomped on him, then kicked him again. Appa went silent. As a result of Hawkins’s actions, Appa died that night from blunt force trauma.
Hawkins admitted guilt on March 3, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2025. Hawkins faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Washington Humane Society and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hanley.
The Washington City Paper has more information on this horrific incident, including another dog’s death committed by a District Dog’s employee in Navy Yard.