The beloved police dogs from the Georgia K-9 unit sadly passed away on Sunday after being left in a vehicle with a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
The Dade County Sheriff’s Office reported on Tuesday that the vice president who looked after Georgia, a bloodhound, had put her in the police car for “an unacceptable time.” This decision was met with a lot of regret.
Georgia was the newest addition to the K-9 unit, gifted to the sheriff’s office by local families.
Sheriff Ray Cross expressed his sorrow, describing Georgia as a “sweet and goofy” bloodhound with bright potential. He noted she would be missed deeply by the entire team and everyone who had the chance to meet her.
It seems that her handler left her in the police car while still at the sheriff’s office for an extended period.
While the deputy had turned on the air conditioning, it malfunctioned, and unfortunately, the vehicle’s broken thermal alarm didn’t activate, as investigators found.
Temperatures inside parked vehicles can skyrocket, reaching over 20 degrees higher than outside in just a few minutes.
The Sheriff’s Office has promised to “overhaul” K-9 policies to prevent other police dogs from facing a fate similar to Georgia’s.
The deputy responsible for Georgia’s care has been terminated, according to the Dade County Sheriff’s Office.
The case has been turned over to the Dade County District Attorney’s Office to consider possible charges against the former deputy.
Every summer, tragic incidents occur where many children and dogs lose their lives after being left in hot vehicles.
Last August, in Missouri, a police dog named Vader died similarly due to a failed air conditioning unit. Just a month ago, another police dog, Horus, faced a similar fate.
And earlier this summer, a dog named Chase was also found dead in Cobb County, Georgia, after being left in a car with a broken air conditioner.
