A North Texas family is asking for answers and justice after their dog was shot and killed while staying with relatives in Alvarado. Dalton and Katherine Samek say their 4‑year‑old basset hound, Sheriff, was found dead in a backyard on Feb. 25 while being cared for by family members. The coup le says their German shepherd, Pistol, was also in the yard at the time but was not hurt. The incident happened in the Stonegate Manor neighborhood, according to Alvarado police. The family says the dog was shot three to four times with pellets fired from a pellet gun, powerful enough to penetrate his side and damage internal organs. Katherine said the moment she arrived and realized what had happened felt unreal. “I think I was mainly in shock,” she said. “My mind can’t comprehend why or how that happened.” The dogs had been dropped off at Katherine’s mother’s home earlier that day while the couple needed to prepare for a move at their Midlothian home. The dogs had spent time at the home frequently in the past. “They were outside for only a few hours while my mom went to work,” she said. “She came home and went to the back door to let them in. Normally, Sheriff is outside sunbathing. And he wouldn’t come back in. So she went out there and found him. And he was dead.” When Katherine arrived at the home, she immediately contacted the police. The family says Sheriff wasn’t just a pet; he was their daughter’s closest companion. “He was our 4‑year‑old daughter’s best friend,” Katherine said. “He loved playing ball and cuddling in bed with us. He was honestly just the goofiest little guy. Funny personality. The sweetest dog. Would never hurt a fly.” Alvarado Police Chief Teddy May confirmed to NBC 5 that the department is investigating the shooting, which occurred in broad daylight between 11 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on February 25. He said he could not provide additional details during the active investigation. Dalton Samek says he cannot understand why anyone would target their dog, who he describes as gentle and friendly. “My initial thoughts when I got there were, who would have done something to a dog who was just hanging out in the backyard? It’s not like they got out and were terrorizing the neighborhood or anything. He was in our control in the backyard,” he said. “He’s a very loving, gentle dog. For somebody to do this intentionally really aggravated us.” The family believes the shooting was deliberate, noting that the yard is enclosed with a tall wooden fence that would require someone to climb or aim over it to hit the dog. “Explaining that to our daughter was really hard,” Dalton said. “That took a big toll on us as well.” Now, the Sameks are urging anyone with information to come forward. They’re asking neighbors to check doorbell or home surveillance footage from the afternoon of Feb. 25. They say several people have already shared clips and messages of support. The family is also offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. “The person out there who knows they did it, they have to live with that,” Dalton said. “And they have to answer for it, ultimately. We just want some closure. We just want to know who did this and maybe why.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alvarado Police Department. ...read more read less