“HE WAS MY SON”: BELOVED PET DONKEY HEEHAW KILLED BY POLICE DURING SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILD

A Georgia family is demanding answers after their beloved pet donkey, HeeHaw, was fatally shot by a police officer during a late-night search for a missing child.

The incident happened around 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 30 in Polk County, Georgia, when officers were searching an area near the family’s pasture.

According to the donkey’s owner, Hannah Israel, officers entered the property while searching for the missing child and encountered HeeHaw.

“HE RAN UP TO THEM BRAYING”

Israel said officers told her that the donkey ran toward them while braying.

According to the account shared by the family, officers believed they were in danger and first attempted to use a Taser before the animal was fatally shot.

Israel said HeeHaw had been bottle-raised and was extremely accustomed to people.

“He was my SON,” she wrote while describing the animal as a beloved member of the family.

HeeHaw was also reportedly used for petting-zoo events, where he regularly interacted with children and adults.

THE SEARCH THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

Police had been searching for a missing child when the incident occurred.

Authorities later confirmed that the child was located safely at a nearby church.

The circumstances surrounding the encounter with HeeHaw, however, remain under investigation.

The identity of the officer involved has not been publicly released.

OFFICER PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome confirmed that an officer involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave while the circumstances are investigated.

The department has launched an investigation, and officials have not yet provided a detailed explanation of why the animal was considered an immediate threat.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also clarified that its deputies were not involved in the shooting, although the agency expressed condolences to the family.

FAMILY DEMANDS ANSWERS

Israel has said she plans to pursue legal action.

A fundraising campaign established to help cover legal expenses has attracted significant public support, with tens of thousands of dollars raised within a short period.

The case has also triggered widespread reaction online, with supporters calling for answers about why the encounter ended with HeeHaw being killed.

For the family, the loss is deeply personal.

HeeHaw was not simply livestock.

He had been raised in the home, cared for like a family member and regularly brought joy to people through petting-zoo events.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS?

The investigation now faces a central question:

What exactly happened between the moment officers encountered HeeHaw and the decision to use lethal force?

Police have not yet released a full account of the encounter, leaving important details unresolved.

The officer’s administrative leave is not a finding of wrongdoing, and the investigation will determine whether the use of force was justified under the circumstances.

But for Hannah Israel and her family, one fact remains painfully clear.

A beloved animal they raised from a bottle is gone — and they want to know why.