Bootsy was not just a farm animal to a Jackson family. The 400-pound pig was 12-year-old Garrett Cox's companion, and now he is gone, killed by someone the family says they want brought to justice.
The killing has left Garrett and his relatives stunned and angry. They say they have reported what happened and are pressing for whoever is responsible to be held accountable.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Bootsy was a familiar presence at the family's home and was treated as a companion animal. The station reports the pig weighed about 400 pounds and that the death appears to have been caused by an unknown assailant. Family members told the station they are determined to find answers and urged neighbors with any information to speak up.
What the law says
Georgia law addresses cruelty to animals and sets out stricter penalties when an animal is killed maliciously. Under Georgia Code 16-12-4, cruelty to animals is a criminal offense, and aggravated cruelty, which can include maliciously causing an animal's death, carries more severe consequences.
Family calls for community help
The family told FOX 5 Atlanta they are grieving and want whoever killed Bootsy to be found, stressing that he was more than livestock to them. They said they are cooperating with local authorities and hope that anyone who noticed suspicious activity around the time of the killing will step forward to help the investigation.
The loss highlights how animals kept on small properties and homesteads can become deeply woven into family life. For now, Garrett and his relatives are left with their grief and the hope that law enforcement can eventually identify a suspect.
