Callie was more than a facility dog—she was a source of comfort, confidence, and unconditional love for the students and staff of J.R. Bonfield Elementary School. Every day, she helped children navigate anxiety, grief, trauma, and life's challenges. She wasn't just part of the school; she was part of its heart.

On June 11, 2026, Callie died after being left in a vehicle during dangerously hot weather. Her death has left students, families, educators, and animal lovers devastated. It was a tragedy that should never have happened.

The Warwick School District has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a personnel process is underway. The Lancaster County District Attorney has also announced that criminal charges will not be filed, concluding that the available evidence did not meet the legal standard for prosecution under the statutes considered.

While we respect the role of the District Attorney in evaluating the evidence, many members of the community believe additional legal review is warranted.

Pennsylvania has long recognized the importance of protecting animals from neglect and cruelty. In 2017, the Commonwealth enacted Libre's Law, landmark legislation inspired by the story of a severely abused puppy that strengthened Pennsylvania's animal cruelty statutes and reaffirmed our commitment to protecting animals entrusted to human care. Callie's story presents another opportunity to honor that commitment and ensure our laws continue to protect the animals who depend entirely upon us.

Pennsylvania law recognizes that anyone entrusted with the care of an animal has a duty to provide for that animal's basic needs. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5532 (Neglect of Animal), that duty includes providing protection from the weather. The statute also provides enhanced penalties when a violation causes bodily injury or places an animal at imminent risk of serious bodily injury.

We respectfully ask the Lancaster County District Attorney to reconsider whether 18 Pa.C.S. § 5532, or any other applicable provision of Pennsylvania law, should be applied to the circumstances surrounding Callie's death. Our request is not based on emotion alone, but on the belief that the law deserves careful consideration whenever an animal dies while entirely dependent upon a person who had a duty of care.

We also call upon the Warwick School District Board of School Directors to complete its personnel investigation with transparency and to hold the responsible employee appropriately accountable. If the Board determines that an employee's actions or omissions directly resulted in Callie's preventable death, we urge the Board to terminate that employee. The community deserves confidence that those entrusted with the care of children and school facility animals are held to the highest standards of responsibility.

Introducing Callie's Code

Callie's legacy should be measured not only by the lives she touched, but by the lives she continues to protect.

We call upon the Warwick School District—and ultimately every school district in Pennsylvania—to adopt Callie's Code, a comprehensive set of safety standards designed to protect every facility animal entrusted to our schools.

Callie's Code includes:

• Mandatory "Look Before You Lock" vehicle checks before leaving any vehicle.

• A two-step verification process whenever a facility animal is transported.

• Written transportation and care protocols for all facility animals.

• Annual training on heat-related animal safety and emergency response.

• Immediate incident reporting and independent review whenever a facility animal is injured or dies.

• Documentation and accountability for all facility animal transportation.

• Regular audits to ensure compliance with safety standards.

These are practical, commonsense safeguards that could prevent another heartbreaking tragedy.

Join Callie's Commonwealth Campaign

Callie's story should not end with one community's grief.

Today, we launch Callie's Commonwealth Campaign—a statewide movement dedicated to strengthening protections for facility animals throughout Pennsylvania and carrying forward the spirit of Libre's Law through stronger safety standards, greater accountability, public education, and meaningful legislative reform.

Through Callie's Commonwealth Campaign, we are calling upon our elected officials, school districts, law enforcement, animal welfare organizations, and communities to:

• Strengthen Pennsylvania's animal protection laws where needed.

• Encourage renewed legal review under applicable Pennsylvania statutes.

• Implement Callie's Code as the statewide standard for transporting and caring for facility animals.

• Promote heat-related pet safety education throughout the Commonwealth.

• Increase transparency and accountability whenever an animal entrusted to a public institution is harmed.

• Honor the extraordinary service provided by facility dogs and other working animals across Pennsylvania.

This petition is not about punishment for its own sake.

It is about accountability.

It is about transparency.

It is about prevention.

Most of all, it is about ensuring that another child never has to lose the dog who helped them feel safe.

Callie spent her life comforting children. She depended on the adults responsible for her care to protect her.

We owe it to Callie—and to every facility animal that follows—to ensure that this tragedy becomes the catalyst for meaningful, lasting change.

Please sign this petition to:

• Urge the Warwick School District Board to hold the responsible employee appropriately accountable through its personnel process.

• Ask the Lancaster County District Attorney to reconsider whether 18 Pa.C.S. § 5532 and any other applicable provisions of Pennsylvania law should be applied to this case.

• Support the adoption of Callie's Code to protect facility animals in every Pennsylvania school.

• Join Callie's Commonwealth Campaign to strengthen animal protections, improve transparency, and ensure that Callie's legacy inspires meaningful reform across our Commonwealth.

Callie spent her life protecting children. Now it's our turn to protect the animals who protect us. Libre inspired Pennsylvania to strengthen its animal cruelty laws. Let Callie inspire Pennsylvania to strengthen how we protect the animals who faithfully serve our children. Callie's life mattered. Let her legacy be one of accountability, compassion, and lasting change.