Chandler police dog left in car dies

East Valley Tribune (AZ) ^ | August 13, 2007 | Christian Richardson

[yorkie]

Sgt. Tom Lovejoy, who heads the six-dog K-9 unit, found the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois when he walked out to the vehicle parked at his home, police spokesman Sgt. Rick Griner said.

[JJR RNCH]

Wasn’t he the officer that shot the woman at the Walgreens when she was trying to pass off a bogus prescription?

[Churchillspirit]

My sympathy on the loss of your dog.

It is a heartbreaking experience to have to put a pet to sleep.

I sure hope there is a place in heaven for animals.

[Dick Bachert]

I’m certain of their place in heaven. It’s me I’m worried about. But, thanks to Jesus, it’s gonna be OK.

[monkfan]

"To be charged with animal cruelty under state law, someone must intentionally or recklessly leave an animal in a vehicle when injury or death likely would occur."

[*grabbing dictionary...*]

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One entry found for reckless.

Main Entry: reck·less
Pronunciation: 're-kl&s
Function: adjective
1 : marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences
2 : IRRESPONSIBLE {reckless charges}

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Sooo... how is leaving a dog in a car for 13 hours on a remarkably hot day not reckless?

[Pistolshot]

Officer should be charged same as a civilian.

On a lighter note:

How'd you get my ex to pose for you?

[dragnet2]

She obeyed.

Oh, and that dog is better looking than half the women I see.

[halfright]

Sounds to me like first degree murder.If I was a perp and shot that dog thats what I would get. Life in prison with bubba or lethal injection should be on the table. Plea down to dogslaughter.? 10-20 with Bubba sounds about right.

[yorkie]

Update on the article:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95043

(The very last sentence says that the same thing happened to another dog in Phoenix in March, when a cop left him in his vehicle.)

I am just livid about this news!

[Cyber Liberty]

Looked it up. That was Lovelace, like the porn star.

[Biggirl]

This is very tragic for the local police force that such a good police dog by the name of Bandit and a very sad reminder of the importance of NOT leaving either animals or children in a hot car during the summer months.

[Fishtalk]

It was the Belgian Malinois dog that was used to search for survivors from the World Trade Center on 9-11-01. If you remember, the dogs got so agitated when they weren't finding survivors that firemen had to hide in the rubble and act surprised when found.

I smile about that anecdote because that's EXACTLY how a Belgian Malinois would act.

Forgive the reindeer ears and grainy pic. Oh, and the dacshund. But this is my Belgian Shepherd.

[sweetiepiezer]

I can’t believe that, they are like your kids, unreal.
A K-9 unit lives across from one of my sons and the cop goes out and runs the air for awhile to cool car off for him before his shift.

[ZULU]

They’re Cops. We’re not. That makes them able to do whatever they want - apparently.

[yorkie]

TWO K-9s were left in police cars in Phoenix in the last five months. BOTH dogs perished under the most horrible of circumstances. This is not acceptable. Something is VERY wrong, here!

[Lx]

Whatever it is, it’s a beautiful dog. How much do they go for and do you ever see them in shelters? I’d rather rescue a dog rather than pick one up at a breeder.
What was this cop thinking? From what I’ve read, the dogs are basically their partners; they’re supposed to watch each other’s back.

[Fishtalk]

They are beautiful dogs. I got ours, Jo-Ann, for $150 in the local yokel paper. She doesn’t have papers or such but she’s a full-bred.

I’m not sure, I suggest softly, that this dog is for everyone. You have got to be dedicated to try to raise this dog in an ordinary home.

Don’t think I wouldn’t do it again because I would. But the Belgian Malinois is a hyper dog. They are not for the faint-hearted.

But they’ll gladly give their life for you, they’ll protect you, they’re not vicious but look mean when you need it.

My granddaughter is cherished and protected by Jo-Ann. so am I.

It’s so worth having her.

[dervish]

How can you forget a dog in your charge (pet or working) for thirteen hours without attending to water, food and walking? Something’s wrong here.

[RooRoobird20]

“It was the Belgian Malinois dog that was used to search for survivors from the World Trade Center on 9-11-01. If you remember, the dogs got so agitated when they weren’t finding survivors that firemen had to hide in the rubble and act surprised when found.”

LOL!!! That is so precious. Animal Planet did a wonderful show on how “Number 13”—the runt from a Belgian Malanois litter—went from tiny puppy to graduating at the top of her War Dog class. It was unbelievable what she could do even as a puppy. So many other dogs washed out of training—and they were good dogs. I wish I had the DVD for that show—the dogs were simply breath-taking.

[norton]

"I really pity this poor officer."

Who should lose his job, his pension, and any shred of self respect he had as a trained, supervising, police dog handler!

He left him in the car, at over 100 degrees, for 13 hours for crying out loud!
One hour to digest the fact that sonny totalled the family's 2nd car I could deal with - thirteen?

Pity the dog, he didn't have any choices to make, he didn't have any escape, and, if he had been given a choice, he'd have run to the side of officer dumb-ass.

[LeoWindhorse]

I also totally pity the dog !
Not in a million years would this happen to one of mine
regardless of what the circumstances were , no way...

My question is , how does one get out of a vehicle , with a Malinois in it and leave the dog in it. Malinois are impossible to ignore , or not notice , they follow your every move, and would definitely bark if left behind like that.
Was he hearing impaired also?
I do agree, he was a total dumbass