‘He was my SON’: Beloved donkey shot, killed by police; owner demands answers

CEDARTOWN, Ga. — A Cedartown family is seeking answers after they say a police officer shot and killed their pet donkey during a search for a missing person. Hannah Israel said officers entered her pasture around 12:45 a.m. while searching for a missing person. According to Israel, officers entered without permission or warning before encountering her donkey, HeeHaw. We’re speaking to the donkey’s owner for LIVE updates starting on Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m. Israel said officers told her the donkey ran toward them while braying and that they believed they were in danger. She said officers attempted to use a Taser before shooting and killing the animal.

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Scoop News DeskCedartown, Georgia · Published Monday, August 31, 2026 at 7:06 PM UTCUpdated Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:04 PM UTC

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The City of Cedartown has confirmed the incident and the officer’s leave but has not released additional details. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter ] ‘He was my SON’: Beloved donkey shot, killed by police; owner demands answers - WSB-TV. The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what happened when officers encountered HeeHaw and why the officer discharged their weapon, remain under investigation.