Dogs Die In Hot Cars :(

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 09:57 AM

Yes I read that, its disgraceful but being high profile the RSPCA may get off their fat A**** and get something done, yesterday a neighbour had a couple of visitors who had 4 King Charles Spaniels which they left in the car (on a South facing drive) without any of the windows left open, I said something that in hindsight wasnt diplomatic, but they did open the windows and the neighbours may speak to me one day but sod 'em the next time I take a hammer to the car windows

**kirsty b** · 02-07-2009, 10:02 AM

I heard that in the news while going to feed chooks. I'm saddened that this should happen at all, never mind to police dogs. I only take the dog in the car with me if I am going somewhere she can actually get out and come with me. If she can't she stays at home.

**SarzWix** · 02-07-2009, 10:28 AM

I think the vehicles that carry working dogs should be air-conditioned as a matter of course - the poor things work their hearts out for us, surely they're worth that?

**MrToggs** · 02-07-2009, 10:35 AM

I was shocked,saddened and apalled when I heard about this story it could of so easily of been avoided.
Ive got a long haired German Shepherd myself and use him for work and I wouldnt dream of leaving him in the van or my car.
I came home last night from work and the dog was so restless and would not settle with the heat so I hosed him down twice and even that wasnt enough to calm him down and he was only out in the garden 20 minutes with plenty shade available so god only knows how those dogs must of suffered.
I ended giving him a new hair cut so out came the clippers no 3 all over

he now looks like a teddy bear

he looks rather odd but hes so much happier and cooler and seems to have more energy.
Would you want to wander round in a fur coat this weather I know I wouldnt. Im not bothered what people say about how daft he looks or the comments of you should'nt of done that, it done now but the main thing is my dog is happier and cooler

**quark1** · 02-07-2009, 11:39 AM

Imho - this was totally avoidable - the dogs could have even been taken out of the vehicle and placed in an empty cell or interview room whilst the handler visited the station. Or a shaded part of the police yard should contain a kennel. Makes you wonder where the police keep dogs which are delivered or held as strays until RSPCA or other org'n turns up to collect.

Why no apparent air conditioning? - there are many versions of solar powered units for cars which do not need a human to 'remember' to turn them on. The specimen vehicle I saw on Mail's website did not show an apparent source of water, unless obscured from view.

What a way for a handler to look after the animals which are after all his partners in the job he/she does.

Hope they get a prosecution as these are meant to be professional handlers/keepers of animals and should be acutely aware of how rapidly heat can kill.

**TEB** · 02-07-2009, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by quark1 View Post

Makes you wonder where the police keep dogs which are delivered or held as strays until RSPCA or other org'n turns up to collect.

When I lived in Marlow, my 6 month old dog got out because the builders had left the front door open, we searched high and low and went eventually to the police, someone had handed her in and she was was locked up in a cell and they had given her a bowl of water

**Hilary B** · 02-07-2009, 01:44 PM

It may not be entirely the fault of the handlers. They do have to take orders from higher-ranked people, and if there were 2 handlers, maybe each was led to believe the other one was looking after the dogs?
A lot of police dog vans DO have cooling units of some sort, but do these work when the van is parked, or are they, like the air conditioning in our car, only functional when the ignition is turned on? With no engine, air conditioning could usually rely on the battery, flat battery anyone?
It MUST be fully investigated, ALL aspects!

**bobleponge** · 02-07-2009, 01:46 PM

It may well not be entirely their fault, but its a sad and avoidable incident nonetheless.

**Hilary B** · 02-07-2009, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by bobleponge View Post

It may well not be entirely their fault, but its a sad and avoidable incident nonetheless.

Indeed, but it is necessary that ALL factors involved get sorted out, from whether these officers were not fit to keep dogs, to whether there is a policy which didn't allow them to do things any other way under the circumstances.

**pdblake** · 02-07-2009, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by Hilary B View Post

I
A lot of police dog vans DO have cooling units of some sort, but do these work when the van is parked, or are they, like the air conditioning in our car, only functional when the ignition is turned on? With no engine, air conditioning could usually rely on the battery, flat battery anyone?
It MUST be fully investigated, ALL aspects!

Going by the story in the BBC the copper was off duty. I think they were in his own car, not a police car.

**allotmentlady** · 02-07-2009, 02:05 PM

Whoever this policeman is, off duty or not, he needs to be prosecuted for cruelty to animals and if he is a dog handler, then he needs to be transferred. It is horriffic what has happened to those poor dogs....why dont they lock him up in a van with no air, lets see how long he survives but like with most of the law he will probably not be prosecuted, they will find some loophole!

**pdblake** · 02-07-2009, 02:06 PM

Sorry, the beeb doesn't mention it, it was Yahoo News:

Police dogs die in hot parked car - Yahoo! News UK

**pdblake** · 02-07-2009, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by allotmentlady View Post

Whoever this policeman is, off duty or not, he needs to be prosecuted for cruelty to animals and if he is a dog handler, then he needs to be transferred. It is horriffic what has happened to those poor dogs....why dont they lock him up in a van with no air, lets see how long he survives but like with most of the law he will probably not be prosecuted, they will find some loophole!

By the looks of things he's not even been suspended

**HayleyB** · 02-07-2009, 02:32 PM

I was sickened and disgusted by this I heard it on Radio 2 this morning.

I have 3 GSDs and they are camping under trees or in the house as it's cooler - I cannot imagine how those poor dogs suffered. Police dogs are treated as officers under normal circumstances and I would expect any investigation to look very very harshly on the officer who killed his fellow officers

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