Too Quick on the Trigger

The video involving the shooting death of Hee Haw the miniature donkey has been released and we should be more disturbed now.

It was shortly after midnight on August 30, and emergency services personnel were searching for a missing child in Polk County near Cedartown, Georgia. The search area included a pasture at Elsberry Farm.

Having been a part of search and rescue teams looking for missing or injured persons including in the woods at night, I can appreciate the stress level – even more so when a child is involved. That said, stress levels among first responders must be managed so that would-be rescuers do not become part of the problem or make the problem worse, which is exactly what happened in this case.

Cedartown Police Officer Trenton Garner, along with other officers, entered the pasture – private property – with no notice provided to the owner. Providing such notice would have only taken seconds and involved nothing more than knocking on a door or having the 911 center call the property owner. The property owner would have made them aware of a donkey being in the pasture and probably helped search their property for the missing child, as most of us would have.

What does one reasonably expect to find in a pasture? Farm animals of course, horses, mules, cows, donkeys, goats, and sheep among others. In this pasture was a donkey. Not just any donkey but a miniature donkey – smaller than some dogs.

This donkey, named Hee Haw, was just a year old. It had been bottle-fed as a baby and raised by its owner. It was used to people and had no fear of people. It had been fed and cared for by people, so when people approached, Hee Haw did what any animal would – it approached them. For Hee Haw this was learned this behavior.

VIDEO of the incident clearly shows Hee Haw approaching one of the officers. The miniature donkey is not displaying any signs of aggression. It is not attempting to bite or kick. In the video, one of the other officers has a dog which does not react to any perceived aggression from the donkey because there is none.

The officer Hee Haw is approaching has his flashlight illuminating the little donkey, likely blinding the poor animal. He backs away from the donkey, which follows him. Again, Hee Haw has no fear of people. The officer attempts to tase Hee Haw, but what works on people does not always work on animals – especially pasture animals with thick coats.

Hee Haw was not approaching Garner, but it was Garner who drew his service weapon and shot the little miniature donkey. Hurting and shocked by the experience, Hee Haw stumbles away and dies from the wound. The little donkey did nothing but approach people as he always done, the same thing your pets might have done.

Hee Haw expected to get a pat on the head, maybe get rubbed between his ears, a pat on the shoulder, or maybe a treat. What he got was a bullet from an over-zealous and possibly frightened officer. Hee Haw trusted people and that trust got him killed.

THE tragedy should never have happened.

To its owner, Hee Haw was more than a pasture animal or pasture pet. Just like people with their dogs, cats and other domestic critters, Hee Haw was part of the family. A knock on a door or a phone call could have prevented the tragic outcome.

The missing child was found, and not in the pasture.

A person wearing a badge and this quick to use a gun should concern all of us.

In the meantime, Hee Haw’s owner has filed a lawsuit. I hope they win.

The officer is claiming “qualified immunity”. I suggest there is no defense against stupidity.

That’s my opinion.

Andy Kober can be reached at andykober@hotmail.com