Here we go again with the anti LEO nonsense
There is nothing in this story to say the officer just parked the car with no AC to let the dog die.Why would he be charged with animal cruelty? K9's ride in a patrol car 8-12 hours per shift and often a lot longer depending where you work. It is an unfortunate episode when a k9 dies in a hot car but unfortunately it does happen. If there is no neglect in this case why would he be charged? The report only says he was writing a report in the station and was out of water. That only means there was no water when the dog died and doesn't prove there wasn't water when the dog was in the car. If you have never seen a working dog drink water, you have missed something. They are a different dog then your pet.
When you are out of your car the motor is running with the AC on, and you try to find shade to park in as you can't just bring the dog into various venues including the station when writing a report. The windows are up for safety as there are too many stupid people that go up and mess with the dog. The same stupid people love to call and complain on you because they see the parked k9 car running which is how the AC works. Our cars had screens on the back windows so I could leave them down a 1/3 of the way but no more. Due to all the idiots out there, I wouldn't risk some person banging on the screen and the dog busting out to bite... I would have to write a blog to cover all the idiotic things I had to deal with that people tried to do to the dog while working k9's.
To help prevent these tragic deaths. patrol cars should be set up with various systems that maintain the AC. However those of us that worked dogs before this modern stuff did just fine leaving the motor on unless it failed. This article doesn't even state if they had the systems. Regardless if they had them, you leave the motor running with the AC on for the dog. Systems fail. My last car even had a pager to beep me if the AC failed, and a device so that I could leave the motor running w/o a key. The pager was worthless. There are some systems that are now being created that will then roll the windows down, and if all else fails open the remote door if the AC fails. Now take the flip side. Do you want an attack trained dog just cut loose?
There isn't enough in this story to say he should be charged, or even justify the suspension. I would need to hear more facts. If he was negligent in caring for the dog that would be a different matter but that is not covered in this story. I have seen a person I knew prosecuted because he went home and forgot the dog in the car after a 16 hour shift..that was negligent and a different story.
; but I think this is about cruel and irresponsible treatment of animals. 
