Boogie, a Rottweiler mix, was still alive and fighting to get out of a plastic trash bag when deputies reached him in Coweta County, Georgia. Two men are accused of putting him inside the bag, loading him into a shopping cart, and wheeling him toward the woods near the Red Carpet Inn on the night of August 7, 2026. A young boy reportedly saw it happen, noticed the bag was moving, and told deputies.

When help arrived, Boogie was badly dehydrated, gasping for air, and fighting to breathe. Even with a rush to get him emergency veterinary care, he did not survive. One of the men reportedly told authorities that Boogie was already dead when they took him into the woods, a claim that conflicts with what deputies found.

Alan Thompson and Jacob Burke reportedly face charges of aggravated animal cruelty and cruelty to children. In Georgia, aggravated animal cruelty is a felony that can bring up to five years behind bars and fines as high as $15,000. Judges can also order psychological evaluations and bar people convicted of animal cruelty from owning, living with, or caring for animals.

Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herb Cranford and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nathan Stewart have the power to make sure this case gets the attention it deserves. They should pursue every charge the evidence supports and reject any plea deal that downplays what happened. If the men are convicted, prosecutors should seek the toughest sentence the law allows, a psychological evaluation, and the longest possible ban on contact with animals.

A child did the right thing by speaking up for Boogie. The justice system should do the same. Sign the petition to demand full accountability for Boogie while this case moves forward.