Washington family sues butcher shop for going to wrong house, killing pet pigs: 'Not a meal'

A family in northwestern Washington has sued a local butcher shop for killing their pet pigs when they came to the wrong house, according to a lawsuit filed in Washington Superior Court.

Natalie and Nathan Gray were raising two female Kunekune pigs, both two years old, when it all came to an end on May 1.

In the lawsuit, the couple alleges that employees of Farmer George Meats, Jonathan Hines and Dillon Baker, came to their property around 1:30 p.m. that day in Port Orchard, Washington and killed their 2-year-old pigs

In the lawsuit, the couple said Hines and Baker entered their property without their knowledge or consent and then shot the pigs as instructed by their employer, Farmer George Meats.

"According to Kitstap Sheriff's Office records, Hines admitted to having done 'everything' and that Dillon was 'only there assisting him,'" the lawsuit reads. "Yet, later in the report, the deputy wrote that 'They backed up to the pen and dispatched both of the pigs with a 22 magnum.'"

The lawsuit also says the pair slit the pigs' throats, then shackled the leg of Betty and prepared to hoist her by one limb so she could bleed out on the property.

Natalie, one of the owners of the pigs, arrived shortly after and was in emotional distress after seeing the state of the pigs. Her husband experienced the same when he arrived.

"Adding to the devastation, and despite Hines and Dillon being told Betty and Patty were family, the Grays were then callously offered free butchering of Betty and Patty," the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit said Hines and Baker were supposed to go to another house nearby that has clear address signage.

The family is suing the company and its employees for trespassing, reckless infliction of emotional distress and more. They asked for economic damages, including burial expenses for both pigs and damages to their land.

The owner of Farmer George Meats did not immediately respond to a message about the lawsuit on Wednesday and when reached by phone Thursday, an employee answered and said he wasn’t available. The employee took a message.

Baker could not be reached and Hines did not immediately respond with comments about the case.

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Family’s lawyer says pigs are family members, not meals

The Grays’ lawyer, Adam P. Karp said his clients are not doing additional interviews but gave his own opinion on the matter Wednesday night.

He said his clients have experienced “heartbreak” and said “I stand with the Gray family to bring justice and help change the law to ensure this never happens again.”

He said animals such as pigs, cats and dogs are members of the family, “not a meal.”

He said he is full of fury thinking about the pigs’ last moments, “greeted by interlopers, not with belly rubs and delicious treats, but with the muzzle of a gun pointed at their faces violently delivering an execution-style bullet into their skulls, while animals they lived with watched, powerless to help.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].