Georgia cop allegedly fatally shoots beloved baby donkey HeeHaw during warrantless search of pasture at night: ‘He was my SON!!’

A police officer in Polk County, Georgia, has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly shooting and killing a baby petting zoo donkey named HeeHaw. Officials have not identified the officer, though widespread anger and condemnation have erupted over the death.

As per Coosa Valley News, the incident took place on Sunday at Elsberry Riding and Farm just after midnight when officers from the Polk County Police Department and the Cedartown Police Department began searching the property’s pasture without the owner’s permission, apparently for a missing person.

According to a Facebook post from the farm’s account from owner Hannah Israel, the cops told her HeeHaw “ran up to them braying”. The cops “thought they were in danger” from the baby donkey and attempted to use a taser on him. When that apparently failed, they allegedly shot the donkey dead.

“We are heartbroken”

Israel continued: “HeeHaw was raised in the house and did petting zoos he never knew a stranger. And was shot and killed in his OWN pasture for doing what donkeys do. Alerting to a stranger. There is no way this is legal! I will be taking legal action. Share this everywhere and get justice for HeeHaw. We are heart broken. He was my SON!!”

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome has confirmed that an official investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is underway, and that the cop who killed the baby donkey has been placed on leave. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has underlined that they were not involved in this incident, but said: “We extend our sincere condolences to the family and everyone affected by this unfortunate incident. We understand the concern and sadness surrounding what occurred.”

As of writing, Cedartown’s municipal government and police department have not issued a statement explaining why an officer allegedly chose to use lethal force on a baby donkey while trespassing on private property at night without a warrant.

Comments on the farm’s heartbreaking Facebook post are united in condemnation of the officer’s alleged actions. One says, “If a cop is afraid of a baby donkey, they should have never signed up”, another that, “There is no way they thought they were in imminent danger of bodily harm from a tiny donkey”, and that “I hope those officers lose their jobs and you are able to get justice for your baby. This breaks my heart.” This is, of course, far from the only incident of cops arriving at a location and killing an animal they claim presented a threat to them.

A GoFundMe set up by Israel to pay for legal fees blasted past its $30,000 target and is currently at $115,000. Israel says, “I have hired a lawyer that won’t be using the go fund me money. So if you gave for the lawyer purpose please feel free to dispute that and get your money back. We will be using any donations left for the farm, care of the animals, a fund for making a HeeHaw foundation and none of it for our personal needs. This is not a pay day for us. Heehaws life has no monetary value.”