Tennessee K-9 dies from heatstroke after being left outside without water for 36 hours, sheriff says
Madison County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office K-9 Bart died on Sept. 19 from a heatstroke after Sheriff Julian Wiser said the dog's handler left him in an outdoor kennel for 36 hours without access to water. (Madison County Sheriff's Office Facebook pa
A Tennessee sheriff said internal and criminal investigations are underway in the death of a K-9 officer who died after being left in an outdoor kennel with no access to water for 36 hours.
What we know:
Madison County Sheriff Julian Wiser said in a video posted to the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page that K-9 Bart, a 2.5-year-old German Shepherd, died on Sept. 19 from a heatstroke. Wiser said the K-9 handler was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation and that the handler later resigned from the sheriff’s office.
Timeline:
Wiser said the K-9 handler called a police supervisor on Sept. 19 to report finding the dog dead in its kennel. Wiser said he told the supervisor to go to the scene, photograph K-9 Bart, his kennel and its content. He also instructed the supervisor to interview the handler.
Tennessee K-9 dies of heatstroke
A Tennessee sheriff said one of his K-9 officers, Bart, was found dead in his outdoor kennel on Sept. 19 after his handler left him there for 36 hours without access to water.
"It was determined that the handler had not been home for approximately 36 hours prior to the discovery of K-9 Bart, based on the preliminary investigation conducted by the supervisor at the scene," Wiser said. "K-9 Bart did not have access to water during this time."
Deputies took the dog to what Wiser described as "one of the top veterinarian university programs" in Mississippi for a necropsy.
"We later received confirmation from the veterinarian that K-9 Bart died from a heat stroke due to severe dehydration," Wiser said.
The heat index that day reached approximately 101 degrees, he said.
In the video, Wiser said he contacted the district attorney to make him aware of the incident.
What they're saying:
Wiser said he previously worked as a K-9 handler and a supervisor for a K-9 unit early in his own law enforcement career.
"We depend on our K-9s to help keep our community safe and our law enforcement officers, but our K-9s depend on us to take care of them," he said.
What's next:
Wiser said he ordered an internal affairs investigation along with a parallel criminal investigation. He said his agency issued search warrants to obtain additional evidence.
Deputies have not revealed the name of the former handler or how soon the investigation is expected to be complete.
Once a thorough investigation is complete, he said, the findings will be forwarded to the district attorney general’s office.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Madison County Sheriff's Office. This story was reported from Orlando.