Three ghoulish neighbors allegedly killed boy’s therapy pig, then were found in aprons near boiling pot of water

NY Post ^ | 5/06/26 | Anna Young

[Libloather]

A 12-year-old Georgia boy was left heartbroken after his therapy pig was allegedly killed by three ghoulish neighbors – who were found with the dead animal in aprons and gloves beside a boiling pot of water.

Garrett Cox, who has ADHD and autism, is now struggling to cope after Bootsy, his 400-pound emotional support pig, was savagely shot dead after wandering from her pen and off the family’s Hoschton property, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, last week, according to multiple reports.

“I miss her so much,” the young boy told WSB-TV about the award-winning pig, while clutching the ribbons they had won at livestock competitions.

His parents, Kerrie and Matt, told the outlet they rushed out to find Bootsy after she escaped – then heard a gunshot and followed the chilling sound to a nearby home.

That’s when they found three people in aprons and gloves standing next to the dead hog and a pot of scalding hot water, leaving the horrified parents convinced the trio were trying to butcher the pig for food.

“There was a rope with blood on it beside her body,” Matt said, adding that Bootsy had been tied up.

Kerri said she confronted one of the cruel suspects, asking, “Why would you do this? You knew she was our pig,” but said the maniac responded with laughter, the outlet reported.

[Dr. Sivana]

Let the owner of the pig make their claim in small court.

There is also the violation of the law that the neighbors were rightly charged with. It is NOT merely a civil matter. If the 400 pound boar was an IMMEDIATE threat, he can defend himself in court.

If my neighbor had a 400 pound boar (and we have had javelinas, smaller but truly wild in our area). I would call the known owner on the phone and ask him to take his boar back and do something to keep him from escaping again.

Given the aprons and boiling pot, I am not convinced that the boar wasn't helped to escape.

[ek_hornbeck]

Have you ever seen a Hmong neighborhood - crime-ridden, full of trash and graffiti everywhere. They’re a tribe of poachers, thieves, and vandals who make Minnesota Somalis look like model citizens by comparison. The Hmong were basically cavemen in their native SE Asia, and somehow wormed their way into the US. That the Marines could train some of them to be attack dogs doesn’t mean much - a pitbull makes an even better attack dog.

[Jamestown1630]

You should see what my cats have done to my place.

[GingisK]

I’m sure a 400 pound pig can do more damage than a cat. I’ve seen a house with deeply rutted floors and destroyed baseboards and walls.

[LowOiL]

Under the law in all states, livestock, including hogs, cannot be killed unless they pose an immediate hazard to health or property. I suppose you make a small claims suit if the trespass damaged you or your property and negligence or liability can be shown. That does not mean you can shoot it.

Around here (and probable in GA)... Hogs can be killed willy nilly on your property. They are pests when not on their property. They do about a billion dollars of damage a year in the US.

https://www.outdooralabama.com/what-hunt/feral-hog-hunting-alabama

Hogs don't wear signs saying "I'm not feral" or "I'm an emotional support animal"... I raise chickens and don't want some hog coming on my property tearing up fences and killing a means I work hard to keep food on the table.

I wouldn't convict them if I was on a jury. Keep your hogzilla fenced and don't whine if you don't. I feel the same for dogs that people let roam that randomly just kill for the fun of it.