{
  "id": 5012590,
  "title": "Pet Donkey Shot Dead By Georgia Cop During Missing Child Search, Fundraiser Surpasses $35,000",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/pet-donkey-shot-dead-by-georgia-cop-during-missing-child-search",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T04:20:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/pet-donkey-shot-dead-by-georgia-cop-during-missing-child-search-fundraiser-surpasses-35000"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Georgia police officer has been placed on administrative leave following the fatal shooting of a beloved family pet, a baby donkey named \"Hee-Haw,\" during a pre-dawn search on their property. The incident occurred on Sunday when officers entered the pasture in Rockmart without permission or notification from the family, according to Hee-Haw's owner, Hannah Israel. Israel stated that the small male donkey reacted defensively by braying when he sensed strangers on the Elsberry farm. One of the officers reportedly opened fire on Hee-Haw, citing fear for his safety.\n\nThe family is left devastated by the loss of their cherished pet, as Hee-Haw was not a stray but a valued member of their household. The heartbreaking incident has prompted the family to seek answers regarding the officer's actions. An online fundraising campaign initiated by Israel to support legal action in response to the donkey's death has quickly raised over $35,000, as reported by The Guardian.\n\nAccording to police, the missing child was ultimately found at a church near the pasture where Hee-Haw met his tragic end. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the donkey's death. Animal rights activists have criticized the use of the donkey as a protest symbol by the National Congress of Pagans (NCP) leader Zeeshan Siddique's supporters.",
  "summary": "Georgia: A Georgia police officer has been placed on leave after a family’s beloved pet baby donkey, “Hee-Haw”, was shot and killed during an early-morning search on their property on Sunday. The incident took place when officers entered the family’s pasture in Rockmart at around 12:45 am while searching for a missing person, without notifying the family or obtaining permission, according to…",
  "key_points": [
    "Georgia cop shoots family's pet donkey Hee-Haw during search",
    "Donkey's death prompts $35,000 online fundraising campaign",
    "Missing child found at church near pasture where donkey died"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The officer's fatal shooting of the family pet donkey during an unauthorized search sets back community trust and raises questions about police protocols for interacting with animals during investigations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}