A family in Indianapolis is demanding accountability after their beloved 6-year-old golden retriever, Ollie, known on Instagram as @goldenbearollie, was fatally shot by a police officer during what authorities described as a “wellness check” Tuesday morning. The incident, which unfolded in the city’s Riverside neighborhood, has triggered widespread backlash online and reignited long-standing concerns about how law enforcement interacts with families—especially in majority-Black communities.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), officers were dispatched to the home around 10:10 a.m. after a neighbor reportedly requested a welfare check on the family. The homeowner, Maya Thompson, a longtime resident and single mother of three, says she was inside folding laundry when she heard a knock and then her dog’s bark—followed by a gunshot.

“I ran to the front and Ollie was on the floor,” Thompson said, visibly shaken. “They didn’t announce themselves. They didn’t wait. He barked once, and they shot him. He wasn’t a threat—he was just scared.”

In a statement released hours later, IMPD claimed the officer on the scene was “greeted by an aggressive dog who charged,” prompting the use of force. However, neighbors and a now-viral doorbell camera video challenge that account. In the clip, Ollie appears behind a screened front door, barking but not advancing, before the door opens and a shot rings out.

“Ollie was a neighborhood favorite,” said neighbor Darius Cole, who watched the footage. “He was gentle. You’d see him in bow ties on Instagram or playing fetch in the yard. He wasn’t dangerous—he was famous.”

With nearly 200,000 followers online, Ollie had become something of a local mascot. His social media featured light-hearted videos, costumes, and holiday-themed photoshoots.

“This isn’t about a dog, it’s about how quickly situations escalate when Black families are involved,” said Imani Clarke, a spokesperson for the Community Justice Coalition. “A wellness check should not end with a family pet being killed.”

The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. IMPD declined to release the officer’s name, citing standard review protocols.

Thompson and her children are now staying with relatives in Bloomington while they process the trauma. A GoFundMe launched Tuesday night to help cover therapy, relocation, and legal costs has already raised more than $45,000.

“I lost my home in a second,” Thompson said. “But Ollie? That was my baby. He didn’t deserve this. No one, human or animal, should be treated like that.”