A 2-year-old German shepherd named Bart died in his outdoor kennel in Madison County, Tennessee, on September 19, and a veterinary necropsy determined the cause was heatstroke from severe dehydration. According to officials, the patrol dog went roughly 36 hours without water while temperatures reached 101 degrees. Bart was trained in apprehension, tracking, article searches and narcotics detection, the kind of work that puts a dog between an officer and danger.
The handler was placed on administrative leave and then resigned. The sheriff’s office says internal and criminal investigations are ongoing, and no charges have been filed, which is why the handler’s name has not been released. Sheriff Julian Wiser called the death unfortunate and preventable, adding that officers depend on their K-9s and the K-9s depend on their handlers.
Here on the Suncoast we know extreme heat. We track red tide, we watch hurricane season, and we know how quickly a Florida afternoon can turn dangerous for an animal left outside. If this story has you thinking about your own pets, check that water bowl twice today. What should departments do to keep better track of their K-9 units?
