A tragic event has occurred involving a much-loved therapy donkey who was killed by a hunter, who attributed the incident to his poor aim.
Angelique, a therapy donkey that assisted special needs children, was in her pen at Hasty’s Haven sanctuary in South Carolina when she was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday, marking the hunting season’s opening day.
The donkey had been a resident at the sanctuary for several years before she was “taken violently and in a negligent manner” while someone was hunting less than 300 yards from the sanctuary’s boundary, according to the management.
The unnamed hunter has been charged with negligent firearm use and hunting too close to a residence, following the incident in Belton.
He may face a maximum fine of $200 and possibly up to 30 days in jail.
The hunter claims he was aiming for a deer, not the donkey—an explanation that has frustrated Angelique’s owners.
“Know your target, especially for hunting,” they expressed on Facebook. “Deer are light brown, while Angelique was dark.”
One owner candidly questioned, “Did he really think Angelique was a deer? Frankly, I don’t know or care about his excuse.” They described the situation as a “nightmare we can’t wake up from.”
The hunter is scheduled to appear in court on November 11, and Angelique’s owners plan to be there, as they intend to pursue additional legal action.
“We will be filing a civil suit,” they stated. “This cannot happen ever again.”
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources characterized the shooting as an “unfortunate incident.” A spokesperson noted that hunters must always clearly identify their targets, be mindful of what lies beyond, and ensure their shooting direction is safe.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another tragic shooting in Georgia, where a police officer shot a beloved year-old donkey named HeeHaw on a farm, claiming it charged at him.
