FIRST ON 3: Pet donkey shot and killed, say owners

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) – The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a donkey on a Castle Hayne family’s land.

Julia Walker-Jewell said her pet donkey was shot and killed. She said Wednesday morning she found her family’s pet donkey named Jack dead.

“I called the donkey. I whistled for the donkey. He didn’t come so I came back here in the woods exploring and he was totally dead and still warm,” said Walker-Jewell.

She said Thursday when they went to bury Jack they discovered a huge shot gun wound in his chest.

“They turned him over and they found the shot gun wound in the chest,” said Walker-Jewell.

She said the two-year-old donkey was shot and killed on purpose. She said Jack was a friendly donkey that loved seeing visitors at the fence.

“I’m sure he just trotted up innocently, and they blasted him in the chest,” said Walker-Jewell. “Extreme anger, you know we have one of the few places left in our county where we’ve got a good bit of land and a really good set up. But there are people like this, that’s the part I don’t understand and the fact that they are this close to me is even more bothersome.”

Walker-Jewell said Jack wasn’t just a pet, even though they got him to keep coyotes away, he was part of the family.

“We loved him. He talked to us. He ran up to the fence every time he saw us,” said Walker-Jewell. “It’s heartbreaking. I’m sad. And I’m angry. I’m helpless. I don’t know who it was.”