Georgia cop kills beloved pet donkey in his own pasture as heartbroken owner demands justice: 'We miss him'
Key Points:
- A Georgia police officer fatally shot a family's pet donkey, HeeHaw, during a search for a missing child on the family's property in Rockmart, Polk County; the child was later found safe at a nearby church.
- The family stated the donkey was shot after it approached officers braying, which they interpreted as threatening; the owner, Hannah Israel, disputes the legality of the shooting and expressed deep grief.
- The Cedartown Police Department placed the officer involved on paid administrative leave and handed the investigation over to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division, which is currently investigating.
- Israel has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses related to the incident and to support animal care and a future foundation in HeeHaw's name, raising over $113,000 as of Tuesday morning.
- Police Chief Jamie Newsom acknowledged the community's heartbreak and confirmed body camera footage exists of the incident, which he has reviewed.