Georgia Officer Says He Shot Donkey After It Charged During Missing‑Girl Search

On August 30, a quiet afternoon in Cedartown, Georgia, turned unexpectedly violent when police entered a farm’s pasture looking for a teenage girl who had been reported missing. The officer at the centre of the controversy, Trenton Garner, later told investigators that a tiny donkey named “HeeHaw” suddenly charged at him and the K‑9 handler, prompting him to draw his service weapon.

Garner, a member of the Cedartown Police Department, was part of a three‑person team – himself, a K‑9 handler named Thomasson and a bloodhound crew from Haralson County – tasked with tracking the missing child. They followed fresh footprints through the woods, eventually reaching a fenced pasture. According to the officer’s own report, the horses in the field spooked and fled, but the miniature donkey, which belonged to farm owner Hannah Israel, bolted toward the officers instead.

“As we were tacking down the fence line, the horses in the pasture spooked and ran back away from us across the pasture,” Garner wrote. “At this time, K‑9 Handler Thomasson stated that there was a donkey on the side of the hill. The donkey then began to charge at us.”

The report says the bloodhound team hesitated, and Garner tried to use his Taser – a move that, he claims, failed to stop the animal. With the donkey allegedly still advancing, he pulled his gun and fired. The shot struck HeeHaw, who turned away, scrambled up a hill and collapsed shortly thereafter.

Later, a drone operated by the Rockmart Fire Department captured the whole episode from the sky, providing visual evidence that investigators are now reviewing. The missing girl was eventually found safe a short distance away, ending the immediate search.

Hannah Israel, who runs Elsberry Riding and Farm, was understandably distraught. She posted on social media that HeeHaw, a $6,000‑valued pet who had never shown aggression, was killed without warning or permission. “Cops entered my pasture searching for a missing person WITHOUT permission or warning and shot and killed my baby donkey,” she wrote, adding that she feels “heartbroken and traumatized.” Israel also urged the public not to send death threats to Garner, emphasizing that accountability can be pursued without hatred.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement has opened an inquiry, and Officer Garner has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation proceeds. The case has ignited a debate about police protocols when animals are involved, especially in high‑stress searches.

As the community waits for answers, the story of HeeHaw serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a routine police operation can spiral into controversy, and how a single animal can become the focal point of broader discussions about law‑enforcement conduct and animal welfare.