to be shocked and disgusted with Nottingham Police

[wiggletastic]

who left two police dogs in a parked car to die in the heat -the heat.

This has made me boiling with rage!!!

I am LIVID, utterly appalled that this could have happened. I mean, the handlers responsible for these dogs knew that they had left them, and who-ever was talking to the/dealing with them in the station would know they were dog handlers. Did NO ONE say "where are the dogs, by the way, are they alright? Do you need to go and deal with them?".

To actually be found DEAD, rather than dying, they had been left for a considerable time.

I don't suppose we shall ever find out what those officers were doing in the station that was sooooo damned important. I hope for their sake it wasn't a meal-break or something equally unimportant.

As a nottingham resident, I want to find out who I write to. These officers need to be prosecuted and dismissed from the force.

Peter Davies is the ACC who commented on the BBC website. The address is:

Nottinghamshire Police
Sherwood Lodge
Arnold
Nottingham
NG5 8PP

am not in any way excusing their actions but the point here is that it doesn't take long, minutes not hours

and they would have known this

I also live in Nottingham. This is appalling and incredibly sad

I would be surprised if it were the dogs handlers that left them as usually the dog handlers and dogs form a close relationship, almost like having a pet.

Agree that police dog handlers should know better, I am extremely surprised.

Whoever was in charge of the dogs should be prosecuted and leave the force.

I'm probably going to get shouted down for this, but when I worked for the police (in two different forces) the vehicles the dog handlers used had cooling systems in to make sure the dogs didn't get too hot. If this is the case in Nottingham (and I don't know if it is or not), it's possible that the handler thought the dogs were safe and comfortable, and something's gone wrong with the cooling system.
I've seen first hand how much the handlers love their dogs, and can't believe the would knowlingly put them at risk.

igivein - that would make more sense. As I say dog handlers tend to really care for their dogs.
Maybe it was an electrical fault or someone "forgetting" (?) to switch a button - still unforgiveable but would explain it more for me.

Pamelat, from my experience, the police dog is a pet and a working dog. My uncle was a dog handler for about 20 years and had a very close relationship with his dogs. They lived at home with him (obviously in a kennel) and we played with them like a family pet when we were children. They know when to go 'on duty' and are able to switch off when at home.

The police officers must be devastated but there should be some punishment dished out as it is unacceptable.

Another perspective for the police force is the cost implications, I imagine it costs a few thousand pounds for all the training and effectively those dogs are 'police officers' themselves...kind of.

were they in a car or a van? van much much much cooler and safer than a car

you can't keep a car cool without leaving engine running and air con on

Item coming up on Jeremy Vine, Radio 2

Just saw on news, they were in a car

I wouldn't leave a dog in a car for 5 mins in this weather.

Can't get my head round this. I worked for the RSPCA for 10 years and if we weren't close enough to respond within minutes to a dog in a hot car call, we would call the police direct. I can't imagine any defense.

I simply cannot understand how they let this happen.

It's appalling when this happens to a member of the public who 'loves their dogs' but hasn't got the sense they were born with, but police officers?? ffs.

Apparently, people are laying flowers at the site !!!

Now I love dogs, but wouldn't lay flowers for my own pets, never mind a dog I didn't know....

Doesn't igivein's earlier post offer a possible explanation melmog? If the car had a cooling system which failed or wasn't switched on, it would explain the dogs being left there in the genuine belief that they were safe. Otherwise, I agree, it's baffling.

Clumsymum: No, really? People love to be involved in a drama, don't they?

Pyrocanthus, they were left in the guy's own car. He wasn't on duty, He'd dropped in to the station for something ....

Yesterday at 3pm I was at the chemist and there was a dog barking in a car parked in full sun, with window down about 5cm. A crowd had gathered round because it was absolutely baking here yesterday - so so hot. Turned out the owner was at the dentist surgery just over the road. There were a lot of scowling faces and critical glares when he hurried over, having been told that it had been noticed by the other shopkeepers and passers by.

I was so cross and sad on behalf of the dog - which was thankfully fine. OBviously had air from the (marginally) open window, and was OK. But hardly comfortable.

I do agility with my dogs and EVERY year there are incidents with dogs being shut in the cars while waiting to compete.

Oh OK, I stand corrected. A catastrophic misjudgment then, and leads me to worry again about the number of dogs and maybe even children who might be in danger in this heatwave. Is it because people aren't used to having to think about heat like this? Or purely individual negligence?

I class it as negligence. Look when you get into a car that has been parked in this weather you know how uncomfortable it feels. You can't not think "oh, the dogs will get too hot, I'd better not leave them" can you ??

Pyrocanthus.

I don't know what people are thinking of. It happens so often!

I just meant being police officers and dog handlers, they would be more aware of the dangers than most.

Is there any more information?

I was wondering if they had attended an emergency, but then remembered that there are cages in the back of police cars that carry dogs, so they could have at the very least left the trunk door open.

Never ever leave a dog in a hot car. We take our dogs for a long walk every day and DP won't even stop at the shop to get milk if they are in the back, but comes home, drops the dogs off, and then goes shopping.

At least the RSPCA is involved and they are quite impartial.

There is no defence for this. It cannot be excused as an accident or misjudgement. It is intentional cruelty resulting in desperate suffering.

There is no reasonable explanation for locking an animal in a car on a high summer day and killing it. Especially not from a highly trained police dog handler who is paid to train and care for his dog. He can't have failed to notice the sun when he went into the station FFS.

I have written to the Chief Constable to express my horror at the officer's wilful neglect. I have also asked for prosecution for cruel and unnecessary suffering.

There is no excuse.

Melmog - absolutely. I was clutching at straws with the cooling unit idea. No better for the poor dogs, but perhaps more understandable.

Clumsymum - of course, it's hardly bearable to get into the car at the moment, it should have been obvious.

Not excusing it, just trying to find an explanation.