Georgia police dog dies after being left in hot patrol car: Sheriff

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A “sweet” and “goofy” police dog died over the weekend after being left inside a patrol car as temperatures reached triple digits in northwest Georgia, authorities said.

The dog, named Georgia and donated by a local family, was found dead on July 13 inside the vehicle’s kennel while her handler had gone to the sheriff’s office, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The heat index in Trenton, located about 140 miles northwest of Atlanta, was “around 100 to 102 degrees,” authorities said.

“Our hearts are aching at the loss of K-9 Georgia,” the sheriff’s office said. “She was an amazing bloodhound who was sweet, goofy, and had all the potential to be the ‘best of the best.’ She will be deeply missed by everyone at our office, and by anyone who had the pleasure to meet her.”

An investigation after the incident found that the air conditioner compressor on the patrol unit malfunctioned and that the heat alarm equipped to the vehicle was not functioning. “Those previous two factors, coupled with K-9 Georgia being left unattended for what we considered to be an unacceptable amount of time, contributed to her passing,” the sheriff’s office added.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Chad Payne told WTVC-TV the deputy was aware the heat alarm was not functioning, “therefore, it was his responsibility to make sure the dog was not left unattended long enough for anything to happen to her.”

The K-9 handler, who was not identified, is no longer employed with the sheriff’s department. The incident has been turned over to the Dade County District Attorney’s Office to determine if charges will be filed, authorities said.

Children, pets, and the dangers of hot cars

The inside of a vehicle traps heat like a greenhouse, so temperatures can increase by 20 degrees in 10 minutes and 50 degrees in an hour, even when it might be in the 70s outside, the National Weather Service noted, adding that cracking a window doesn’t help much.

The weather service said 700 children nationwide died between 1998 and 2016 from being left in hot cars, prompting the service to launch an awareness campaign using the slogan, “Look Before You Lock.” Laura Dunn, safety specialist for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the agency has seen injuries and deaths occur when outside temperatures are as low as 57 degrees.

“If left for enough time, that vehicle will continue to heat up over time. So it’s not something that is just on a particularly hot day,” Dunn told USA TODAY. “It is something that can happen in a kind of temperate environment.”

Dr. Cherice Roth, chief veterinary officer for online veterinary consulting app Fuzzy, says it could be harder for short-snouted dogs – like bulldogs, pugs, and Boston terriers – to be in mild temperatures, as well as pets with heart, kidney or liver issues. She said she has treated dogs for heatstroke at 70 degrees.

Experts say these types of incidents can happen to anyone, mostly when there is a change in routine. Ways experts said people can prevent accidents from happening are to have a visual reminder, like leaving a toy in the front seat to remember if someone or a pet is still in the car, as well as to communicate with spouses, family, or friends on the whereabouts of those who could be in danger.

Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY

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