Police dog deaths

**bassybill** · #1 06-27-2011, 05:44 PM

This is a really sad story. Two police dogs die after being left in a car. This isn't the first time this has happened.

This raises questions about the ethics of getting officers to work with dogs when they don't seem to have the empathy with the animals that some owners might have.

My opinion, others may differ - but I think a serious sentence imposed by the courts is the only appropriate outcome for the parties involved here if they are shown to be negligent.

Two Police Dogs Including A Puppy Have Died After They Were Left In A Car On Year's Hottest Day | UK News | Sky News

DwaynieAD · #2 06-27-2011, 06:24 PM

in the US police dogs are like members of the officers family, just like any other pet.. they take them home and always have them with them.. well i shouldnt say US i should say "where i live"

**cheezewiz** · #3 06-27-2011, 06:27 PM

That's horrible.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 06-27-2011, 06:30 PM

Really sad story

Unfortunately, we have the same thing happen a lot in the midsouth, but instead of animals it's often infants and toddlers. I can't believe people can actually be that careless.

**bassybill** · #5 06-27-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

in the US police dogs are like members of the officers family, just like any other pet.. they take them home and always have them with them.. well i shouldnt say US i should say "where i live"

That sounds very good to me. I think dogs need that sort of closeness in their relationships to be happy.

**bassybill** · #6 06-27-2011, 06:47 PM

I suppose this also raises some serious questions about this particular police force's training for officers working with dogs.

Elegant Mule · #7 06-27-2011, 07:04 PM

I worked with the Portland Police dept for more than 2 years and I met most of the K9 cops, and not one of them would ever leave a dog anywhere. At least where I'm from, the cops see the dogs as the more valuable part of the team. You might have to wait in the 107 degree heat inside the car, but the dog is getting liver or cheese or whatever it likes best.

spade2you · #8 06-27-2011, 07:24 PM

I don't know anyone in K-9, but those dogs are pretty expensive assets. That being said, the officers are still human and can make mistakes. Tragic, but these stories tend to pander to those who hate law enforcement.

jabsys · #9 06-27-2011, 07:37 PM

He should never have been allowed another animal after the first time, to allow this to happen twice shows just how much he cares about the dogs.

DerHoggz · #10 06-27-2011, 09:22 PM

This happened in a city 20 minutes from me recently. The cop left the dog in the car while he went to do something else. The car was still running, but had an auto-shutoff thing after a certain amount of time. Windows are supposed to automatically roll down for the dog when the shutoff happens but malfunctioned. The cop was terribly distraught, as the dog did live at home with him. They had a full-on funeral for the dog like any other officer.

The cop was at fault though, as it was some extra thing he was doing and he was supposed to leave the dog at home until his real shift.

Still terribly sad.

Skitch it! · #11 06-28-2011, 06:19 AM

I think this chap should have undergone observation as to his mental capability a while back.

Handler found injured after police dogs die in car | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Initial reports indicate a suicide bid and subsequent sectioning under the mental health act, sad case all round

bassbrad · #12 06-28-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

My opinion, others may differ - but I think a serious sentence imposed by the courts is the only appropriate outcome for the parties involved here if they are shown to be negligent.

I'm with you here Bill, animal neglect or abuse are bad enough, but for one officer to harm another should be a crime and the police should be held to the same or a higher standard than the general public.

kasanovakarl · #13 06-28-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

This happened in a city 20 minutes from me recently. The cop left the dog in the car while he went to do something else. The car was still running, but had an auto-shutoff thing after a certain amount of time. Windows are supposed to automatically roll down for the dog when the shutoff happens but malfunctioned. The cop was terribly distraught, as the dog did live at home with him. They had a full-on funeral for the dog like any other officer.

The cop was at fault though, as it was some extra thing he was doing and he was supposed to leave the dog at home until his real shift.

Still terribly sad.

I'm about 20 minutes from there as well. This was really a sad story. I know a cop who has one of these dogs and the dog is never left alone that long in a car - regardless of the reason.

What will be interesting in these cases is to see if the police will be charged with the harming of another police officer. If by some chance anyone hit a police K9, we would be charged with killing an officer, but I have a feeling there won't be any repercussions on the handlers.

bassbrad · #14 06-28-2011, 01:18 PM

I really don't understand a K-9 officer ever leaving his partner in the car especially in the heat or cold, police dogs are service animals and are exempt from any normal animal restrictions in businesses, schools, hospitals, restaurants or anywhere else.

boynamedsuse · #15 06-28-2011, 02:37 PM

If they can’t do something as simple as care for an animal that has been put in their charge, how can they carry out their responsibilities as a police officer?

**jmattbassplaya** · #16 06-28-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boynamedsuse

If they can’t do something as simple as care for an animal that has been put in their charge, how can they carry out their responsibilities as a police officer?

Good point.

Radical Edward · #17 06-28-2011, 03:10 PM

This is really sad. Those dogs deserved better than that. Most police officers are very close with their dogs and they usually keep them as pets at home and realize that they have saved their lives many times. It's really unfortunate to see a handler who is so detached and who doesn't seem to care. These poor dogs deserve better lives.

Radical Edward · #18 06-28-2011, 03:14 PM

This is really sad. Those dogs deserved better than that. Most police officers are very close with their dogs and they usually keep them as pets at home and realize that they have saved their lives many times. It's really unfortunate to see a handler who is so detached and who doesn't seem to care. The fact that the Unit seemed to not really care and that he will probably get away with it is really messed up..
These poor dogs deserve better lives.