K9 drug-sniffing dog dies after being left in hot car for over 2 hours

[davidn3600]

A drug-detecting police dog died after he was left in a hot vehicle for two and a half hours during a training exercise.

The two-year-old yellow Labrador, named Totti, was found in the squad car at Rockview state prison near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, last Thursday, according to authorities.

Sgt Chad Holland, the K-9's handler, had stored training items in the vehicle at the end of the exercise and didn't realize the animal was locked inside, said Amy Worden, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

Holland put the equipment in the car at 12.15pm but did not know Totti was still in the vehicle until 2.44pm, Worden told Penn Live.

Dog handlers and other staff tried to cool the K-9 with a water hose and ice and took him, still conscious, to a nearby veterinary clinic, but he died that night.

The department said Totti's death 'has been very devastating for everyone involved'.

Totti was a member of the state Department of Corrections Drug Interdictions Unit.

This is the first incident of its kind since the unit was launched in 1995, according to a statement from the department.

Prison officials have now launched an investigation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3687097/Police-dog-left-hot-car-training-exercise-dies.html

[niyad]

1. that poor little being. Lady of the Beasts, take him home gently.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Whoa. Thanks Niyad, for putting it just that way.

I mourn for every lost service dog.

[Nay]

6. What a sweet blessing. Thank you for that. nt

[Auggie]

2. Hey Sgt Chad Holland ... you're a piece of shit. The dog comes first ...

as handler you should know where it is every second.

Asshole.

[niyad]

7. thank you. how in the HELL could the HANDLER "NOT" know that the dog was inside?

[HockeyMom]

3. Poor Baby. No Excuse.

When we drove our elderly cats from NY to Florida in the Summer, we took them out of the AC car in their carriers at Rest Stops. Put them on top of Picnic Tables under Roofs, and gave them a lot of water. Good enough for humans, good enough for animals. A dog is a lot easier to take out of a car than a cat. No excuse.

[CanonRay]

5. He should be charged with animal cruelty

Like any of us would.

[zz-la]

8. I was going to say the same thing.

If any one of us had done this, not matter how sorry we would of course be, we would be prosecuted. So sick of their being separate rules for LEO's and regular citizens.

[B2G]

10. How many parents do the same thing

To their CHILDREN and at not charged?

[zz-la]

11. Yep if I left my child in a hot car for any length of time I know I would be charged in my state

And I would likely serve jail time.

[B2G]

12. Don't be so sure.

Many many aren't.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. My GSD LOVES to be outside, on the deck, surveying the yard for criminal squirrels.

She hates to have to come in, but I won't leave her out there - with water and in the shade - for mare than an hour at a time when its hot out.

How can the handler of a valuable, highly trained dog, forget the dog in his car? Locked? In the heat? When training?

Before you get to handle dogs, you really better start by being a person who loves dogs.

[Logical]

13. I would be arrested, but I am not a cop. nt