Wayne dog owner said his canine pet, Ludwig, was chasing sticks in the river when he was shot

WAYNE – When Joe Petit started his sealcoating business in Wayne, he named it Petit Brothers Sealcoating and Asphalt Repair – the “brothers” being his Dogo Argentinos, littermates Ludwig and Philo.

Now Ludwig is dead, shot Tuesday afternoon, allegedly by Petit’s neighbor, Hal Phipps, husband of Wayne Village President Eileen Phipps.

Hal Phipps declined comment when reached by phone Wednesday night. Eileen Phipps did not respond to a email seeking comment.

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said his department is investigating the shooting for the Wayne Police Department, because of the political situation.

Barely speaking through his sobs, Petit said the dogs were playing in the river with a friend when Ludwig was shot.

“They had the best social skills of any dog in the world,” Petit said.

Petit and the Phipps both live on Pearson Drive, where their backyards back up to the Fox River.

Petit said his home video surveillance captured the shooting. Petit said he turned the video over to the Sheriff’s Office as evidence.

Joan Larson, the office manager for Petit’s sealcoating business, said Petit is not married and does not have children – but considered the dogs his children.

The dogs were 2 years old and had been with her from the time they were puppies, she said.

“Of course they are scary because they are big, but Ludwig would lay down on his back in front of you to get his belly scratched” Larson said. “They are lapdogs – and probably weigh 130 to 140 pounds.”

The dogs were chasing sticks in the water with a woman friend of Petit’s, “not anywhere near Hal’s property,” Larson said.

“Joe’s yard is completely fenced in all the way to the river and you open the gate to the boat launch where they swim,” Larson said.

“Both dogs were in the water in front of his boat launch and Philo went to get a stick,” Larson said. “Ludwig was shot in the heart and killed – and this was a foot in front of (Petit’s friend).”

Hain stated in a news release sent late Thursday, that Wayne police and Sheriff’s deputies had responded to the 5N600 block of Pearson Drive in Wayne for a report of shots fired.

“Upon arrival, deputies learned that a homeowner fired multiple shots from a handgun at a neighbor’s two dogs who he stated were on his property and aggressively blocking his path from his boat dock, where he was standing, back to his residence,” the release stated. “It appeared one dog had been struck by the gunfire and later did not survive.”

The release stated that the dog owner was swimming in the river with both dogs when the neighbor began to shoot at both dogs.

Investigators continue to review video evidence and the statements of those involved in the incident. Kane County Sheriff’s Detectives will review their findings with the Kane County State Attorney’s Office after they conclude the investigation, the release stated.