{
  "name": "National Officer-Involved Donkey Shooting Database",
  "updated": "2026-09-02",
  "inclusion_criteria": "A sworn U.S. law enforcement officer discharged a firearm at a donkey, mule, or burro as a use of force. Euthanasia of a fatally injured animal on veterinary advice is excluded.",
  "count": 1,
  "records": [
    {
      "id": "DSD-2026-001",
      "date": "2026-08-30",
      "time_local": "00:45",
      "animal_name": "HeeHaw",
      "animal": "Donkey",
      "species": "Equus asinus",
      "size_class": "Miniature",
      "age_years": 1,
      "city": "Cedartown",
      "county": "Polk",
      "state": "GA",
      "latitude": 34.011,
      "longitude": -85.256,
      "location_precision": "approximate (nearest town)",
      "agency": "Cedartown Police Department",
      "agency_named": true,
      "context": "Officers entered a pasture while searching for a missing 12-year-old girl, who was found safe.",
      "less_lethal_attempted": true,
      "less_lethal_type": "Taser",
      "outcome": "Killed",
      "body_worn_camera": true,
      "officer_status": "Administrative leave pending internal investigation",
      "investigating_agency": "Georgia Department of Agriculture, Law Enforcement Division",
      "provisional": null,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.wrganews.com/2026/08/30/investigation-underway-after-officers-shoots-and-kills-miniature-donkey-in-polk-county/",
        "https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/he-was-our-family-owners-seek-justice-after-police-kill-miniature-donkey/USWEGIO25FHPDF5DGKUGX4ZJ54/",
        "https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/justice-4-heehaw-cedartown-farm-owner-mourning-loss-of-beloved-baby-donkey-shot-killed-by-officer/85-09a04bc2-6609-4c4e-bf0b-d3096ced03ca",
        "https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/donkey-shot-killed-polk-county-cedartown-police-officer-leave"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "under_review": [],
  "excluded": [
    {
      "date": "2025-07-29",
      "place": "Bullhead City, Mohave County, Arizona",
      "animal": "Wild burro",
      "what_happened": "A car struck a wild burro near milepost 1 on Highway 68. Bullhead City police contacted the Bureau of Land Management, which advised euthanizing the severely injured animal.",
      "reason": "Euthanasia of a fatally injured animal, not a use of force. The accessible report also never says who performed it.",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.mohavedailynews.com/news/burro-euthanized-after-colliding-with-a-car-on-highway-68-in-bullhead-city/article_54d098b0-7363-4a49-8945-16a9bd5b3f0d.html"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2022-04-12",
      "place": "Santa Rosa County, Florida",
      "animal": "Donkey",
      "what_happened": "Deputies tried to corral a loose donkey and called an independent livestock contractor, who shot it twice. The contractor was charged with felony animal cruelty and inhumane slaughter of livestock.",
      "reason": "Civilian shooter; deputies present.",
      "sources": [
        "https://weartv.com/news/local/livestock-contractor-charged-with-killing-donkey-in-santa-rosa-county",
        "https://www.wkrg.com/northwest-florida/santa-rosa-county/outrage-grows-over-donkey-shot-killed-by-santa-rosa-county-contractor/",
        "https://www.wlbt.com/2022/04/13/donkey-loose-shot-killed-after-deputies-failed-corral-it-authorities-say/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2019-09-15",
      "place": "Byron, Contra Costa County, California",
      "animal": "Mule, 5 to 6 years old",
      "what_happened": "A mule carrying a rider was struck by an Audi sedan on Delta Road at Byron Highway. A veterinarian consulted by phone advised shooting the animal because of catastrophic injuries; 'an officer at the scene' did.",
      "reason": "Euthanasia on veterinary advice, not a use of force. Single-sourced; agency not named.",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-mercury-news/20190918/281848645311996"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2018-11-15",
      "place": "Bullhead City, Mohave County, Arizona",
      "animal": "Wild burro",
      "what_happened": "A Bullhead City Police transport van struck and killed a burro on Highway 68 at about 2:30 a.m.",
      "reason": "Vehicle, not firearm.",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.thebee.news/police-van-strikes-kills-burro-on-highway-68/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "1975-08",
      "place": "Yavapai County, Arizona",
      "animal": "Two burros",
      "what_happened": "U.S. Rep. Sam Steiger shot two burros he said charged him. The sheriff's office investigated and declined to charge.",
      "reason": "Shooter was a sitting congressman, not a sworn officer.",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/08/18/arizona-sam-steiger-burros-shot-50th-anniversary"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2019-05",
      "place": "Clark Mountain Herd Area, I-15 corridor, California and Nevada",
      "animal": "42 wild burros",
      "what_happened": "The Bureau of Land Management found 42 burro carcasses with gunshot wounds along Interstate 15. Sheriff, CHP, and wildlife officers assisted the investigation.",
      "reason": "Shooter never identified.",
      "sources": [
        "https://pvtimes.com/news/more-than-40-wild-burros-killed-in-nevada-california-region-74301/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2017-12-31",
      "place": "Oatman, Mohave County, Arizona",
      "animal": "Young wild burro",
      "what_happened": "A young burro was found with a gunshot wound and euthanized by the Bureau of Land Management.",
      "reason": "Shooter never identified.",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.havasunews.com/free_access/burro-s-shooting-death-prompts-investigation-outrage/article_c7c32078-f1e2-11e7-a9dc-5ff84652f05f.html"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-05-09",
      "place": "Jeff Davis County, Georgia",
      "animal": "Two bulls",
      "what_happened": "A deputy cornered on a porch by charging bulls shot two of them.",
      "reason": "Wrong species (bovine).",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.wsav.com/crime-safety/jeff-davis-deputy-shoots-2-bulls-after-loose-cattle-call/"
      ]
    }
  ]
}