Therapy donkey Angelique shot dead near South Carolina sanctuary during deer hunt
Angelique, a therapy donkey at Hasty’s Haven sanctuary in Anderson County, South Carolina, was shot and killed after a hunter said he missed a deer. The incident has left sanctuary staff grieving and raised concerns about firing a gun near a property where animals and people were present.
The sanctuary said the shot was fired about 270 feet from its fence, towards an enclosure close to the owners’ home, on the first day of hunting season. Angelique had previously worked as a therapy animal and, with three other donkeys, took part in the sanctuary’s educational programmes. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said the hunter faces charges of negligent use of a firearm and hunting within 300 yards of a residence.
- Therapy donkey Angelique was killed by a stray hunting shot.
- The shot was fired about 270 feet from the sanctuary fence.
- The hunter faces two charges, according to state officials.
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Angelique, a donkey at Hasty's Haven sanctuary in Anderson County, South Carolina, was killed by a bullet during the opening day of the hunting season. The hunter said he had missed a deer; the shot came from about 270 feet away and travelled towards an enclosure near the sanctuary owners' home.
The donkey had worked as a therapy animal and participated in the sanctuary's educational programmes alongside three other donkeys. Hasty's Haven provides activities involving both animals and people, making this incident particularly significant to those who worked with Angelique.
The shooting has raised concerns about firearms safety where hunting takes place near residences and animal sanctuaries. The hunter faces charges of negligent use of a firearm and hunting within 300 yards of a residence—legal limits intended to prevent such incidents.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Hunting is a longstanding and lawful activity during designated seasons, and hunting accidents, whilst tragic, can occur even among conscientious practitioners. The hunter is facing legal consequences through appropriate channels, which represents proper accountability. Communities and hunting traditions must balance the inevitability of human error in outdoor activities with respect for established rural practices and seasonal hunting rights.
The case against
Safety near residential areas and animal sanctuaries must be paramount, particularly when legal regulations establish buffer zones specifically to prevent such tragedies. Hunters bear fundamental responsibility to positively identify targets and understand their surroundings before firing—this is non-negotiable safety protocol. The preventable death of a therapy animal demonstrates why strict enforcement of hunting regulations near populated areas is essential, and communities have legitimate grounds to demand scrupulous caution from hunters operating near homes and valued animals.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Gentle donkey called Angelique is shot and killed by hunter who claims to have missed their intended target”.