A Georgia family is grieving after neighbors allegedly gunned down a 12-year-old boy’s beloved therapy pig and tried to butcher her for food, destroying the animal that helped the child cope with autism and gain confidence.
Nearly every day, Garrett Cox would feed, bathe, and run alongside Bootsy, the 400-pound pig who helped the shy 12-year-old build confidence after years of struggling with ADHD and autism, according to his family.
The pig, who celebrated her first birthday in March, had become part of the family after they joined Future Farmers of America (FFA), a program that helped transform the boy’s life.
The family said Garrett poured himself into raising the pig, caring for her every day on their Georgia property, and training her for FFA competitions, where the pair earned ribbons together at livestock shows.
Over time, they watched the quiet boy grow more social and confident as he built a connection with Bootsy.
“As Bootsy grew, love grew,” Garrett’s mother, Kerrie Cox, told Fox 5 Atlanta, adding that her son’s confidence went “through the roof” after bonding with the animal.
Bootsy shot and killed
On April 30, a heartbreaking situation unfolded after Bootsy escaped from her pen and wandered away from the family’s property.
Garrett’s father, Matt Cox, said he stepped outside to put the pig away for the night when he realized she was missing from the property. A short time later, he heard a gunshot and followed the disturbing sound to a nearby home.
When the family found Bootsy, they said the scene awaiting them was horrifying.
Garrett’s best friend had been shot at close range and killed.
According to Matt, three people were standing near the dead pig wearing aprons and gloves, with a pot of boiling hot water nearby. The family believes the group was preparing to butcher the animal for food.
“There was a rope with blood on it beside her body,” Matt told WSB-TV, adding he believe that Bootsy had been “restrained” before she was shot.
Kerrie said she also confronted the people immediately after her husband.
“And I told her, ‘Why would you do this? You knew she was our pig,’” Kerrie said. “And she laughed at me.”
Intentional slaughter of innocent Bootsy
After, the family pushed for criminal charges. Authorities have now arrested three people in connection with the case.
Officials confirmed that 54-year-old Mai Kia Vang-Moua, 59-year-old Maysy Moua, and 33-year-old Kee Moua are facing aggravated animal cruelty charges after investigators looked into the pig’s death.
Despite claims from the suspects that the animal was mistaken for a wild pig, the family pointed out that Bootsy was wearing a bright orange livestock ear tag at the time of her death.
“This is someone who had purpose in what they were doing,” Kerrie told WSB-TV.
‘Feels like a bad dream’
Even with arrests made in the case, the Cox family says they are still struggling to process the violent way Bootsy was taken from them and the emotional toll it has had on Garrett.
“We were shattered by the loss of our son’s beloved pet pig, Bootsy. Losing a pet is always painful, but the way we lost Bootsy is something we are still struggling to comprehend,” Kerrie shared in a May 8 Facebook post. “Garrett keeps saying it feels like a bad dream –that he’s going to wake up and see Bootsy waiting for him, just like she always did. Bootsy was more than a pet to the family.”
For Garrett, the loss of Bootsy has been devastating.
“I miss her so much,” he told WSB-TV, adding, “She made me very happy.”
The family has since buried Bootsy near the barn where she spent much of her time with Garrett.
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