Posted on 05/30/2025 7:06:36 AM PDT by billorites
BANGOR, Maine —
The Maine Department of Public Safety is grieving the unexpected death of Baxter, a 3-year-old chocolate lab who brought comfort and companionship to emergency responders as the state's first official comfort dog.
Baxter was found dead at about 2 p.m. Wednesday in a state vehicle, which was parked at the Bangor Regional Communications Center. Advertisement
The DPS said the vehicle unexpectedly stopped running, which caused its air conditioning system to shut down.
According to the National Weather Service, Bangor reached a high temperature of 83 degrees on Wednesday.
State officials said the vehicle was regularly used to transport Baxter. The vehicle is undergoing a thorough inspection to identify potential malfunctions.
Baxter joined the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022 and offered emotional support to emergency telecommunicators at the state’s three regional dispatch centers.
"His calming and cheerful presence will be deeply missed by all those who interacted with him," the DPS said in a statement. "The department extends its deepest condolences to Baxter’s handler and his family, as well as the entire emergency telecommunication team."
The DPS said it is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding Baxter's death. No additional details were immediately available.
I’m confident that the cop who was responsible for leaving Baxter in the vehicle will be treated exactly as any of us would be treated had we done so. Ahem.
I dont believe that story about the motor stopping.
They probably got caught up in something and the car ran out of gas.
Was it a MUSLIM or a BLACK?
Just checked Maine law.
There’s a huge loophole involving intent that could mean whoever left that dog in that vehicle is off the hook.
WTG, Maine.
I hope he was not a “comfort dog,” in the same sense Japanese soldiers kept Korean “comfort girls.”
Either do I....forgot to roll down the window.
Whoever that “responsible officer” is, their new name will be MUD for the foreseeable future, at least within that city.
From 2018...
https://wgme.com/news/local/officials-remind-mainers-to-not-leave-children-animals-in-hot-cars
“...In the state of Maine, there are no exact laws against leaving a child in a hot car, but doing so can result in child endangerment and reckless conduct charges...”
Dogs. Kids.
Whatever.
The device dog is considered an official member of the Fire Department and such its death has to be considered a death to a firefighter. As with the death of a police canine by an unnatural event.
The device dog is considered an official member of the Fire Department and such its death has to be considered a death to a firefighter. As with the death of a police canine by an unnatural event.
The results of the “official” investigation will say “mistakes were made” and training materials have been updated.
If the dog was used to provide comfort to emergency operators, WTF was it left in a car to beginning with? They s story is so filled with bullshiite!
No humans to supervise the dog and running vehicle?
Reads of Criminal Negligence on the part of the dog’s handler.
Ewwwww
Whoever came up with the term “comfort dog” must not be familiar with a similarly named program run by the Japanese Army during WWII.
The liberals are now laser focused on the elderly. Time to protect grandma
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