A pig was shot, dragged alive behind an ATV for nearly two miles while screaming, and then killed in the woods. The man charged with doing this wasn't a stranger to animal welfare. He was Eden's town constable, animal control officer, and volunteer firefighter.

Matthew C. Hill, 47, faces two counts of aggravated animal cruelty under Vermont law. According to prosecutors, neighbors heard the pig screaming as it was dragged down a dirt road. A neighbor captured the incident on video. Investigators say the footage and witness testimony show the animal was still alive and struggling throughout the ordeal. Hill later acknowledged the pig was alive during the transport.

These are not allegations that describe an accident or a split-second mistake. They describe prolonged, conscious suffering inflicted on an animal who could not escape.

Hill held positions of public trust, the kind communities rely on to protect animals and uphold the law. That history makes this alleged conduct all the more serious. Fellow animal control officers have attended court proceedings and expressed concern that cases like this erode public confidence in the systems meant to keep animals safe. They are right to be concerned.

Vermont law allows for up to five years of imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for aggravated animal cruelty. That sentence exists for cases exactly like this one.

Sign this petition to urge State Attorney Aliena J. Gerhard to pursue all charges supported by the evidence, seek the maximum penalties upon conviction, and oppose any plea or resolution that fails to reflect the gravity of what this pig allegedly endured.