Holy shit! It’s happened again! A Belgian Malinois Police K9 dog has died – this one in Alpine, CA. And just like last year, this guy left the dog in his patrol car…in his driveway…on an extremely hot day.
Last August, a Chandler, Arizona police officer left his Belgian Malinois Bandit in the car, in his driveway, for more than 10 hours before he remembered him. The heat was too much for the dog and he died.
Here’s the story…
An investigation is under way into the death of a police dog outside the Alpine home of its handler.
On Friday afternoon, the officer found the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois dead in the back seat of his patrol car, which was parked outside his home, according to San Diego police.
It was unclear how long the dog, named Forrest, had been in the cruiser, or if the heat inside the vehicle played a role in his death.
Temperatures in Alpine topped 100 degrees on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
A necropsy will determine the cause of death, police spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.
Here’s the rest.
And according to another article Forrest’s handler, Paul Hubka, had come home after an overnight shift, went in the house. A few hours later he went out to his car and discovered the dog had died.
I simply don’t understand how these guys could leave their partners in the car. I mean, don’t they work with these dogs on a daily basis? They rely on them to help them do their job, and even save their lives, but yet they leave the dogs in a hot car? I’m sure the officer didn’t mean to leave the dog in the car, but still…I simply can’t imagine forgetting a dog that’s such an important, crucial part of his life.
To all of you who think it’s OK to leave a pet in a hot car…IT’S NOT!!! If you’re not willing to sit in a hot car with the a/c off on a hot day then don’t make your pet do it either! And oh, fyi, leaving the a/c on and your pet in the car isn’t the solution. If the a/c goes off your dog is screwed.
(the picture above is Bandit, the Arizona K9 that died last year)
Update: If all you can do in response to this post is call the officer nasty names, do it somewhere else. I’ve already deleted some very hateful comments and won’t hesitate to do it again.
Technorati Tags: police dog dies, K9, police dog, dogs in hot cars
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree, this is so incredible how it can happen. These dogs live on a daily basis with the families.
Doesn’t make any sense. Would these people leave their kids in the car?
“It was unclear how long the dog, named Forrest, had been in the cruiser, or if the heat inside the vehicle played a role in his death.”
Right. Maybe the dog died of cancer or old age or something.
Unless this officer cares for 50 police dogs at his home, I can’t fathom how he didn’t miss his law enforcement K-9 partner for HOURS while the dog died a horrible death in the car.
I e-mailed officer Hubka and reminded him of legislation that Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 1806 making it a crime to leave an animal unattended in a hot vehicle. I asked him why he thought it is not OK for the rest of us to do this but OK for him? I doubt I will hear back from him.
That’s so mean, how cruel people can be. I hate hearing stories where animals die or are put into abused situations. It’s so sad. Animals cannot help what kind of family they are going to be brought into. It’s really very sad, I feel terrible for them everyday.
This is shocking and sad, but I sincerely doubt this officer cackled evilly and left his dog to die in the car. I bet he’s torturing himself more than anyone posting to this article could.
Instead of recriminations, we should extend to him our condolences for his loss. It’s what a dog would do.
No, his act of neglect killed this dog. He should be held fully accountable for his action (or inaction) and suffer the same consequences as any other citizen would, per the law.
Whether he feels bad or is “torturing himself more than anyone posting to this article” is irrelevant.
Just a disgusting circumstance.
techincally this guy killed a police officer. when suspects do something that results in the death of a canine officer they are charged with murder. he should be too.
This is (unfortunately) much more common than people think. Working at a very large vet hospital for a few years, and working at a centrally located emergency hospital in the bay area now, I’ve seen at least one police dog a month (sometimes one a week) coming in for heat exhaustion. Sometimes its because they were working and they got pulled into something complicated and the dog was left in the car. Other times, its been events where the dog is left in the shade while they’re out giving stickers to little kids. I’ve worked graveyard, and have forgotten my card in the atm, have forgotten my keys in the door, and have forgotten my bag at work. I have never forgotten my dog though….. I dont know that i could.
Vet Tech, I had no idea it was such a common problem. Like you though, I can’t imagine forgetting one of my best friends in the car.
Charge the officer with killing a police officer and get his ass off the streets. DISGUSTING!
out of intrest did the officer face any charges for this as a civilin who did the same thing would have.
Roy, I don’t believe it’s gone that far yet, it just happened. If I find out I’ll be sure to post it on the blog.
To Matt: Yes, actually, that occurs too. In excess of 100 children (most of them under 5) died last year because mommy or daddy forgot that sweet little Susan or Jacob was in the car when they went to work, thus forgetting to drop his or her kid off at daycare.
That should be counted as a form of animal cruelty, in my opinion.
too bad it wasn’t his kid instead, this guy shouldn’t be reproducing
Shouldn’t he be charged with the death of a police officer just like others who have killed police dogs. Individuals have been charged for killing police dogs, whether intentional or not, because he is a cop makes it no different.
I plan on being a K9 handler in the future. Officers who want to go K9 have had that dream since they were children. Its not something that just pops into your head one day and sound like a cool thing for you to do with your law enforcement career. I say that because I would NEVER leave my dog in the car. Its a routine. Everyday you put your uniform, that dog follows yo to the car, you put him/her in the back, go do your job for the day, finish the day, go home, let the dog out of the car, the dog greets the kids, the dog does a routine walk through the house to make sure things are fine, take your uniform off, you feed him/her, and settle in for the night. That’s pretty much how the day goes. I would like to know what happened to the officer that particular day to make him forget his partner. But yes I do agree he does need to be charged. Not with murder. That would mean he intended to leave the K9 in the car. I think involuntary man slaughter or a bare minimum should be cruelty to animals.
Here is the follow up link. http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.135278.html
The dog DID die of heat stroke! If you or I did this we would be in VERY big trouble with all kinds of agencies. Let’s hope this poor dog does not die in vain and the officers get more education about leaving your beloved dog in the car. These are not cheap dogs either. Not sure the exact cost but, I believe it is very COSTLY to keep, handle and have a trained dog like this. It costs the tax payers! I want my tax dollars handle with better TLC!
Maybe more attention will be called to this and a bigger voice will be heard, “This is not acceptable!”
Sorry 1 more. The cop in AZ was charged with midemeanor animal cruelty.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/06/police.dog/index.html
i hate hearing about stuff like this, this is terrible