Police dogs die after car ordeal

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/police-dogs-die-car-ordeal-162133591.html

..Two police dogs have died after they were left in a car on the hottest day of the year.

The Metropolitan Police animals, a working Belgian Malanois and a German Shepherd puppy, were found collapsed in an unventilated vehicle at the force's training centre in Keston, Kent, on Sunday.

A Met Police spokesman said: "On Sunday June 26 at approx 11am staff at a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) building were alerted to two police dogs having been left in an unventilated private vehicle.

"Entry was forced to the vehicle and two MPS dogs, a working Belgian Malanois and a German Shepherd pup, were found in a state of collapse.

"Both were taken to an emergency vets where they subsequently died.

"An investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards into the circumstances of this incident has begun."

The deaths follow those of two German Shepherd police dogs, who were left to die in a baking hot car outside Nottinghamshire Police headquarters in July 2009.

A spokeswoman from the Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, said it was "saddened" to hear of the two latest deaths.

She added: "Whilst the cause of death is still to be determined, the charity would like to remind dog owners and police dog handlers that leaving your dog in a car can prove rapidly fatal, particularly during a heatwave.

"It can take just 20 minutes for a dog to die and temperatures can reach over 40 degrees in some vehicles."
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I hope whoever is responsible for the terrible ordeal those dogs must have suffered is properly sentenced.

So do I

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/dog-death-cop-flees-post-suicide-bid-080547476.html

Dog Death Cop Flees Post In 'Suicide Bid'

..An officer responsible for allowing two police dogs to die in a sweltering car fled his post and suffered a hand injury in what is claimed to be a suicide bid.

It emerged that the officer disappeared less than 90 minutes after the dogs were found collapsed in his unventilated car at a training facility at Keston in Kent.

"On Sunday 26 June at approximately 12.25 police were alerted to a police officer suddenly leaving his duty posting, causing concern for the officer's safety and welfare," a Scotland Yard spokesman told Sky News.

"The officer was treated as a missing person and a search began, eventually locating him in Newham borough suffering a hand injury.

"He was taken to an east London hospital as a precaution. He is currently receiving medical treatment."


According to The Sun newspaper, the Metropolitan Police officer is believed to be the dogs' handler, Sergeant Ian Craven.

Staff at the centre had been alerted at about 11am on Sunday that the dogs, a working Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd pup, had passed out in the car.

Both animals were rushed to an emergency veterinarian service but they subsequently died.

The Directorate of Professional Standards has launched a probe into the circumstances of the incident, which took place as temperatures soared to as high as 29C in the South East.


The Sun said the officer had left the dogs in the vehicle and went off to a meeting at the Olympic site near Stratford, apparently forgetting about the animals.

It said he later leapt from a colleague's car while it was travelling at about 30mph after accepting a lift back to the Kent training facility after being informed of the incident.

A missing person alert was issued and the officer, who has served 30 years with the service, was later found in a distressed state.

A source told the paper: "He appeared to have slashed his wrist in an apparent attempt to kill himself."

It claimed that Sgt Craven, 49, was officially disciplined several years ago after previous dog he was responsible for died from overheating in a car.


Police forces across the country are aware of the danger of working dogs dying in sweltering temperatures.

Dog handler Pc Mark Johnson was handed a six-month conditional discharge after he was found guilty of animal cruelty in relation to the deaths of the two dogs in Nottinghamshire.

During his trial in February last year, Nottingham Magistrates' Court was told he suffered from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, which led to him forgetting that he had left the dogs in his car outside Nottinghamshire Police's Sherwood Lodge headquarters as temperatures reached 29.3C.
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How can you drive somewhere with dogs in the car and 'forget' they're there? He's obviously distraught but l hope he's never allowed to work with dogs again, especially carry them round in cars.

Poor, poor dogs. That could have been Eddie and Keela God forbid.

quote....Dog handler Pc Mark Johnson was handed a six-month conditional discharge after he was found guilty of animal cruelty in relation to the deaths of the two dogs in Nottinghamshire.

During his trial in February last year, Nottingham Magistrates' Court was told he suffered from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, which led to him forgetting that he had left the dogs in his car outside Nottinghamshire Police's Sherwood Lodge headquarters as temperatures reached 29.3C.
....end

six month conditional discharge because he suffered from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder leading him to forget he had left the dogs in the car ......................and he is employed as a police officer !!!!

It defies belief.

Too upset by this to make a rational comment.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM IN 2004

When I heard about this on the news it rang a bell. How on earth he has been allowed to have dogs in his care defies belief. I expect it would be a different matter if this was a member of the public - they wouldn't have been allowed to repeat the offence again!

Here in Portugal the day before yesterday a 3 year old girl died in a car after her parents left her for 30 minutes!! it's unbelievable what people do!!!

How many times is something like this going to happen before they start to employ officers who want to do the job for more than just a wage packet and pension?

P.S.
Not to forget the power and sarcasm they all seem to use with abandon when dealing with members of the defenceless public.....

I have no doubt that when the "investigation" into this horrendous matter is over this policeman too will have been suffering severe stress or some other ailment, he's probably already on suspension with full pay.

Fred I am so sorry to hear about the little girl, I swear the human race is going backwards, common sense and instinct doesn't seem to exist any more in so very many people.

Badboy wrote:THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM IN 2004

Really?!
Thats disgusting! Its bad enough once, but twice, I'm sorry, thats unforgivable!!
I'm really, really angry over this!

And the little girl in Portugal!
What the h*ll are they doing leaving her anywhere for 30 minutes! Dear god!!

wjk wrote:

Badboy wrote:THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM IN 2004

Really?!
Thats disgusting! Its bad enough once, but twice, I'm sorry, thats unforgivable!!
I'm really, really angry over this!

And the little girl in Portugal!
What the h*ll are they doing leaving her anywhere for 30 minutes! Dear god!!

THAT WHAT THEY SAID ON SKY?/ITV? NEWS,THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE SAME THING HAPPENED BACK IN 2004