A 12-year-old boy’s 400-pound pig was shot and killed by people living next door, leaving his family searching for answers as they describe what Bootsy meant to them.
Garrett Cox, who has ADHD and autism, according to his mother, spent nearly a year caring for the large pig after joining the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Through the program, he trained Bootsy for competitions and bonded closely with her.
“As Bootsy grew, love grew,” Kerrie Cox, Garrett’s mother said, explaining that having the pig at their Hoschton home boosted her son’s confidence ‘through the roof’.
Garrett’s father, Matt Cox, said the situation came to light last week when he went to put Bootsy in her barn for the night and realized she wasn’t there.
The family believes the pig escaped her pen and wandered away from their property.
Matt told WSB-TV that while he and Kerrie were out looking for Bootsy, they heard a gunshot coming from nearby. Soon after, they found the pig dead.
“We heard a gunshot,” he said.
The couple said they traced the sound to a neighbor’s home and discovered Bootsy had been shot at close range. They also alleged the pig had been tied, and the scene suggested she was about to be processed for meat.
“There was a rope with blood on it beside her body,” Matt said, adding that three people were near the pig wearing gloves and aprons, with boiling water nearby.
“And I told her, ‘Why would you do this? You knew she was our pig,’” Kerrie said to the outlet. “And she laughed at me.”
While the outlet reported that the three people said they believed the animal was feral, Kerrie argued Bootsy should have been clearly identifiable as a domesticated farm pig because she had an ear tag.
Bootsy was also an award-winning show pig. Garrett told the outlet he has kept the ribbons from their competitions as reminders of the time he spent with her.
“I miss her so much,” he said.
Fox 5 reported that authorities arrested three people in connection with Bootsy’s death: Mai Kia Vang-Moua, 54, Maysy Moua, 59, and Kee Moua, 33.
Matt said the loss has been especially hard on Garrett: “Of course, he started crying… it’s been very up and down since.”
Fox 5 also reported that all three have been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony.