Officer shoots donkey during missing-child search in Polk County

A Cedartown police officer shot and killed a small pet donkey named HeeHaw on a Polk County farm during an overnight search for a missing child, an incident that has sparked family outrage and a legal push. The owner, Hannah Israel, says HeeHaw was a bottle-raised family member who loved people and participated in petting zoos, and she questions how officers entered the pasture and why lethal force was used after a Taser attempt. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as authorities review body camera footage, and the shooting is being investigated by state agencies; officials have not yet disclosed details of the encounter. Israel has launched a GoFundMe to hire legal help, and the family is pursuing justice amid threats and ongoing scrutiny of department protocols. News outlets report the death occurred during an overnight search for a missing child, with the child later found at a church near the scene. The incident has drawn national attention to use-of-force policies around animals and prompted calls for accountability from the distraught owner and community advocates.