On June 24th, while searching the woods for a fugitive, bordering the property of Ginger Sweat, West Virginia State Police Special Response Unit shot and killed her dog Willy Pete.  Her dog went towards them to greet them and see their K9. Ginger ran outside and begged them to let her bring him inside. They ignored her plea and fired one shot. He ran towards her on her porch, trying to get into the house. The look on his face. It was like he was asking her for help. They shot 3 more times and finally killed him before her eyes. They were shooting in her direction while her children were inside the home. Either Ginger or one of her children could have been shot.  Ginger and her husband are raising 2 children on 1 income. They have a medically fragile child who was born at 23 weeks gestation and therefore Ginger has to stay home with her.  The whole family is devastated over the loss of their best friend. They watched him being born and Ginger watched him die. Willy Pete deserved better. We request a full investigation into the shooting of this beloved family pet.This dog was running away from them while they continued to fatally shoot him.

Innocent animals are being shot every day for no reason by trigger happy, badly trained police officers.  It is said that every 98 minutes in the USA, a dog is brutally and needlessly shot by law enforcement. This is an alarming statistic and they are getting away with it. This has to stop! Something needs to be done before more innocent pets are murdered.