A Georgia police officer has been identified as the individual who fatally shot a young donkey named Heehaw. Officer Trenton Garner, 24, stated in a police report that he fired his Glock 17 after the animal allegedly charged at him and a K-9 handler.
The incident occurred Saturday night when Garner responded to assist a bloodhound team searching for a missing 12-year-old girl. According to Garner's account, the search led officers to a pasture owned by Elsberry Riding and Farm. While entering the pasture, horses became spooked and ran off. Subsequently, a donkey, later identified as Heehaw, allegedly began to charge at the officers and the K-9 handler. The handler reportedly attempted to deter the animal with a taser before Garner discharged his firearm.
Garner, who joined the Cedartown Police Department in July 2023, wrote that he fired the shot to protect himself, the K-9 officer, and the bloodhound team from the donkey. The animal, described as bottle-fed since infancy, retreated and then fell after being shot.
Heehaw's owner, Hannah Israel, told Officer Garner that the donkey had never been aggressive towards anyone and would not attempt to bite. She estimated the animal's value at $6,000 due to being bottle-fed from a young age. Israel has since launched a GoFundMe page in Heehaw's honor, raising over $118,000 as of Thursday. The funds are intended for a foundation in Heehaw's name and the care of other farm animals.
Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome stated that the department is cooperating with an investigation by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's law enforcement division. Officer Garner has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation's outcome. Newsome expressed condolences for the grief and frustration caused by the donkey's loss.
The young girl the officers were searching for was later found in the direction the bloodhound team had been tracking before the donkey incident.