2 more police dogs have died after being left in the car by their handler!!

[ledkr]

How can this keep happening?How can you just forget you have 2 massive dogs in the back of your van that you work with everyday.
Im not a particular dog lover but god this makes me soooo angry.

[Northernlurker]

People don't only forget dogs. They have been known to forget children as well. It happens. It's hugely distressing for everyone concerned. I'm not sure being angry with those concerned is particularly helpful.

[belgo]

Apparently the policeman who left them slashed his wrists last night in a suicide attempt.

I think that gives us some idea of how he is feeling?

[moonmother]

Call me sceptical but the only reason he possibly attempted suicide could be because this isn't the first time a dog has died in his car through heat .

A spaniel died a few years ago after he 'forgot' it. This man is supposed to be one of the most experienced dog trainers in the country.

[Northernlurker]

Yes I read that as well. I don't think speculating on his reasons for self harm is particularly edifying though.

[ledkr]

Moonmother.Gosh is that true.More shocked now,Why was he allowed to carry on working,dont members of the public get a ban on owning animals if this happens?

[Shoesytwoesy]

poor dogs, what an awful way to die, I hope they throw the book at the policeman who allowed this to happen.

[ledkr]

I got into my car yesterday and before the windows go down and the air con kicks in there is that awfull moment where you feel sick with the sheer heat,poor dogs indeed.

[Northernlurker]

Is nobody reading my point about leaving children in cars? People forget sometimes. Usually when their routine has been disrupted in some way and they go on to 'autopilot'.
This is a tragedy not intentional cruelty.

[belgo]

yes northernlurker, in fact I know someone who forgot his third child in the car. The baby was fine; the dad wasn't!

[Boozilla]

I get that people forget things occasionally but according to what I read this morning he hasn't even been suspended whilst they investigate. These are supposed to be professional handlers. Anyone who lets this happen should NEVER be allowed to work with dogs again.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I only read about it this morning. I really hope he never works with dogs again, particularly as he is one of the countries foremost experts in police dogs.
northernlurker I forgot DD once. I have just about forgiven myself. she was only about three weeks old, in the front of the car and the outside temperature was around 45 degrees. I went to the post office and left her in the car because she was asleep. I got chatting to someone and didn't get back to the car for about 10 minutes. DD was very sweaty, I was very panicked and took her to hospital

[Debs75]

We watched that Police programme last year and the dog handlers said if they are persuing a criminal and they can't take the dog it has to stay in the van. Is that not what happened? If that is the case then why aren't the vans air conditioned?

[ledkr]

I dont see that in this case forgetting is a defence tho,he has apparently done it twice. As kreecher says it was ashock that she forgot her baby but i bet she'll never do it again. His job is a handler of dogs,i take babies in my car frequently at work and cannot just forget they are there.or appointments or contact arrangements,i just cant.

[ledkr]

Debs,i think he went into a training centre.

[diddl]

He was at the training centre which has kennels!

[Boozilla]

Good point Debs. I'm just guessing but surely a situation where the dogs need to be left in the car has cropped up before!? They should have some sort of ventilation/cooling system for hot days.

It's animal cruelty, plain and simple.

[Debs75]

Well then that is different. He takes the dogs with him every day so should of relised they were there.
i once left dd in the car when we got back home, in fact I did it loads of times. I would lock the car walk 5 yards to the front door then go 'oops baby in the car' and go and get her. I think once I managed to get inside before remembering. If a loopy mum of four can remember that living mammals are in the car then a highly trained dog handler should have no excuse

[ggirl]

Someone linked to an article about how easy it is to forget babies in cars..was american article .People thinking they'd dropped them off at nursery when they hadn't and then spending all day at work...doesn't bear thinking of. But I think we are all capable fo forgetting..well I know I am.
Tis awful about the dogs..terrible.
There needs to be procedures to prevent it , surely .

[diddl]

TBH I thought they were only called out when necessary.

The fans that the vans have-do they only work when the van is moving?

And if they get there & can´t use the dogs, why doesn´t the handler take them back?

[Shoesytwoesy]

this man works with dogs, he would have had them with him every day, so saying he "forgot" is a crap excuse, think how the poor animals suffered.

[diddl]

"There needs to be procedures to prevent it , surely ."

You´d think it would be automatic to let them out as soon as you returned to the training centre, wouldn´t you?

[Shoesytwoesy]

not the first time he has killed dogs by forgetting
wtf is a man with such a"poor memory" doing on the police force.

[ledkr]

Dh mate is a handler,he takes the dogs home everynight,they are like pets to him,he adores them,cant imagine him forgetting them.
Ill ask re air con but as is the case in this country we dont get enough heat for it to be standard.

[diddl]

And they were in his own car.

Surely police "dog" vehicles have ventilation of some kind?

[ggirl]

hmm this man suffers from OCD which caused him to forget last time...he should never have been allowed the responsibility again.