Two police dogs died in the heatwave after being left in a car by their handler.
The German Shepherds, which had been donated to Nottinghamshire Police, were found dead outside the force's headquarters.
It is believed their handler was not on duty and called into the offices leaving the dogs to over-heat. It is unclear how long the animals had been left in the car in Sherwood Lodge, Arnold, on Tuesday where temperatures reached 28C. The RSPCA said temperatures inside the car could have been 47C.
The dogs were donated to carry out police work, including tracking down criminals and providing security. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it received a referral from the force and is deciding whether to launch an inquiry. The RSPCA is investigating.
The maximum sentence for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is six months in jail and a £20,000 fine.
The handler has not been suspended.
I will not say what I really feel about this but I must admit it is just unbelievable. Police dog handlers are trained to work with dogs, to live with dogs and to look after them. These dogs are highly trained and do fantastic work. They love their work and only do it to please their handler. That’s how a dog works. When you teach a dog anything from a simple trick such as responding to the command “sit” to retrieving game or finding drugs in suitcases or tracking for missing people or finding avalanche victims or guiding the blind, the dog does it to please his handler, the person he is working with and the person he trusts with his life.
As a dog trainer, I do warn people about leaving dogs in cars. I find it unacceptable that a person who has had training and whose job it to work with dogs, is guilty of negligence and unprofessional behaviour.
PS: I find it strange that this incident is not widely reported in the British press.
7 comments:
It is absolutely scandalous, particulary because they'd just advertised for dogs and had been given these by a breeder.
I cannot believe I am reading this story Eurodog.
If the story was more widely publicized perhaps they would be lynched.
We saw the story here on Italian television so it is now clearly getting some coverage. The shocking thing is that a professional dog handler should have allowed this to happen. What's the betting that the idiot who did it doesn't even get a slap over the wrist?
It was reported in the Times and The Guardian I think but not sure about the others . I read there may be a prosecution ...
It's been very widely reported on TV, certainly.
I find it incredible that a professional dog-handler did not know that he should not leave a dog in a car in hot weather. I thought anyone with a hair of common sense knew that, let alone a professional. I won't even let my dog stay in a car unattended on dull humid days, as the heat can still build up. That man should be shut in a car and made to suffer the same fate!!
Thank you all for commenting.
Sadly a similar incident happened in Belgium a couple of weeks ago. A man was supposed to take his little boy to the nursery but drove to work instead and when he went to his car at the end of the day found the little boy dead.
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