Georgia Police Officer Placed on Leave After Shooting and Killing Family Pet Donkey HeeHaw
On Sunday, a Georgia police officer shot and killed a family’s pet donkey named HeeHaw in his own pasture in Cedartown, Polk County. According to the Cedartown Police Department, the officer was aiding in a search for a missing child at approximately 12:45 a.m. when the incident occurred. The officer has since been placed on paid administrative leave while the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division investigates the shooting.
The Incident in Cedartown
Hannah Israel, 30, stated that law enforcement officers entered her family’s property without prior notice late Sunday night while looking for a missing child. During the search, officers encountered HeeHaw, a bottle-raised baby donkey who lived on the property. According to statements shared by Israel on social media and reported by local outlets, the officers claimed the animal ran toward them braying, prompting them to believe they were in danger. The officers reportedly deployed a Taser before shooting and killing the donkey in his own pasture.
The missing child was later located safely at a nearby church, according to police statements.
Israel expressed profound grief over the loss of the animal, noting that HeeHaw had been raised in the house for the first three months of his life and frequently participated in local petting zoo events. “HeeHaw was shot and killed in his OWN pasture for doing what donkeys do. Alerting to a stranger,” Israel wrote in a public statement. Photographs taken in the aftermath showed Israel mourning over the animal.
Investigation and Administrative Action
Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsom confirmed that body camera footage of the incident exists and that he has reviewed the recording. Newsom acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the emotional toll on the family and community.
Cedartown Police Department formally turned over the investigation to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division. State investigators were present at Elsberry Farm on Monday to examine the scene. Concurrently, the department placed the involved officer on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Israel announced plans to pursue legal action. To help defray rising legal expenses, she established an online fundraising campaign via GoFundMe, which surpassed initial financial targets within days. Israel stated that any residual funds would be directed toward animal care and the establishment of a future foundation named in honor of the pet.