Woman Sues Georgia Officer for Killing Family’s Donkey During Search Operation

POLICY WIRE — Cedartown, Georgia — A Georgia woman has filed a civil rights lawsuit against a local police officer who fatally shot her family’s donkey during a search operation last month.

Hannah Israel initiated the legal action on September 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia’s Rome Division, naming Officer Trenton Garner individually. The case does not include municipal agencies or the Cedartown Police Department.

The incident occurred on August 29 when officers arrived at the Rockmart property to search for a missing 12-year-old child. According to court documents, they entered the fenced pasture without permission or a warrant. The donkey, named HeeHaw, was described as docile and non-threatening before being shot by Garner. Israel claims the use of lethal force violated constitutional protections against unreasonable seizure and unlawful search.

Garner’s official report presents a different account, stating that the animal charged at officers and did not retreat despite a Taser being deployed. He claims he fired his weapon once to protect the handler and team before the donkey fled uphill and died. After the shooting, Israel said officers left without revealing the animal’s location, forcing her and a minor to search the dark property for hours to find HeeHaw.

The lawsuit alleges three federal violations: unlawful search, unconstitutional seizure, and deprivation of property without due process. Israel is seeking compensatory damages, punitive awards, legal fees, and court costs. She has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support farm care and establish a foundation in HeeHaw’s memory, raising over $159,000 from more than 2,200 donors.

Garner remains on administrative leave while an independent investigation by the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division continues. Authorities confirmed the missing child was found unharmed.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)