Two police dogs die in parked car

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Two police dogs have been found dead in a hot police car parked outside the headquarters of Nottinghamshire Police.

 

By Ben LeachPublished: 8:01AM BST 02 Jul 2009

 

 

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the incident after an RSPCA officer found the two German Shepherd dogs dead on Tuesday.

An independent vet is carrying out post-mortem tests to establish how the animals, who were discovered outside the Sherwood Lodge headquarters in Arnold, Nottingham, died.

Nottinghamshire's Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Davies, said: "This is a tragic incident and we value the important work our police dogs carry out on a daily basis.

"That is why we swiftly reported this incident to the RSPCA and we will be working with them very closely."

In a statement Nottinghamshire Police said the welfare of all animals owned by them was "of paramount importance and we endeavour to take every measure possible to ensure their wellbeing and safety".

Nottinghamshire vet Andrew Wilson, who has 36 years' experience in practice, said dehydration would have affected the dogs very quickly in the current temperatures.

He said: "The dehydration would have been a big factor. They wouldn't be able to cool themselves because panting wouldn't be effective anymore, there would be no evaporation from the tongue.

"As the core temperature rose as a result of that, and the brain temperature rose, the brain would cease to function and various other organs would fail. This happens certainly within 30 minutes".