In a heartbreaking incident in Rockmart, Polk County, Georgia, a pet miniature donkey named “HeeHaw” was shot and killed by police while they were searching for a missing child. The incident led to the officer involved being placed on administrative leave with pay, and the case has been handed over to the state’s Department of Agriculture for investigation.
According to the owner, 30-year-old Hannah Israel, multiple police officers entered her ranch in the early hours of Sunday, August 30th without warning to search for a missing child and encountered the miniature donkey named HeeHaw.
Israel took to Facebook to express her outrage, stating that the police claimed the donkey “charged at them braying,” making them believe they were in danger. They attempted to subdue him with a stun gun and eventually resorted to shooting him. She emphasized that HeeHaw was killed on his own property for simply doing what a donkey should do – alerting strangers. Israel condemned the police’s actions as “absolutely unlawful” and vowed to take legal action.
Israel shared that HeeHaw had spent the first three months of his life sleeping on her bed, was friendly and had participated in numerous petting zoo events. She described him as a lovable creature who would stand by her when she spoke, as if trying to join the conversation. He would eagerly run towards people, emitting a comical sound because he enjoyed human company and believed himself to be one of them.
A heartbreaking photo captured after the shooting shows Israel cradling her beloved pet donkey in tears, with HeeHaw lying motionless on the ground with eyes wide open.
The Cedartown Police Department confirmed that the case has been handed over to the Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division for investigation, and the officer involved has been placed on paid leave during the inquiry. Police Chief Jamie Newsom expressed sadness over the incident, stating that the involvement in the search operation led them to this unfortunate and heart-wrenching situation.
The missing child was later found safe and unharmed near a nearby church.
In response to the tragic event, Israel launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to cover legal expenses, with any remaining funds going towards the upkeep of the farm and care for the animals. As of Tuesday, September 1st, the fundraiser had exceeded $110,000. She made it clear that the donated amount, after legal fees deduction, would not be used for personal needs.
Pet donkeys are not uncommon among rural and farm families in the United States, often treated as cherished members of the family. The Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division has initiated an investigation into the incident.
In a separate incident in Massachusetts in 2025, a couple’s pet donkey named Murty went missing, sparking a community-wide search operation. Despite initial fears of a bear attack due to signs of struggle and bear footprints near the barn, Murty was eventually located safely with the help of police, animal control officers, neighbors, and even off-duty officers who joined the search efforts.
Similarly, in California in 2019, a couple’s pet donkey named Diesel went missing and was presumed dead after an exhaustive search yielded no results. However, over five years later, a peculiar sighting on a wildlife camera revealed Diesel among a group of wild deer, alive and well, providing a heartwarming conclusion to the search for the beloved animal.
This article is a compilation of reports from various sources, including Fox 5 Atlanta and WSB-TV.