A two-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd who served as a K-9 officer in Madison County, Tennessee, died of heat stroke after being left outside in a kennel without water, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The dog, named Bart, was found dead by his handler on September 19, when the heat index in the area reached 101 degrees, according to WREG. The handler, a sheriff’s deputy, has since resigned.
Timeline and Cause of Death
Bart was trained for patrolling, apprehension, tracking, article searches and narcotic detection work, as reported by WREG. According to information attributed to Julian Wiser, Bart’s handler had not been home for 36 hours before the dog was discovered dead in his outside kennel. Wiser was informed that the handler found Bart’s body on September 19 in Madison County.
Wiser said Bart had no access to water during that period. WREG reported that the sheriff’s office attributed the death to heat stroke brought on by severe dehydration.
Heat Safety for Dogs
The American Veterinary Medical Association advises that pets kept outdoors have unlimited access to fresh water and access to shade. Police Magazine, citing the United States Police Canine Association’s national veterinary medical director, lists uncontrollable panting, unusual disregard for commands, seeking shade and lying down as possible signs of an impending heat problem in working dogs: AVMA guidance and Police Magazine. A separate case involved a vehicle rather than a kennel: Police1 reported that K-9 Ike died after being left in a patrol car in Maricopa, Arizona, on June 26, 2020, and that his officer received a 20-hour unpaid suspension.
Deputy Placed on Leave, Then Resigned
The deputy responsible for Bart’s care was placed on administrative leave following the dog’s death and subsequently resigned from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by WREG. The station’s report does not identify the deputy by name, nor does it specify the exact date the resignation took effect.
“Our canines depend on us to take care of them,” Wiser said.
Criminal and Internal Investigations Underway
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has ordered both a criminal investigation and an internal affairs investigation into Bart’s death, and investigators have issued search warrants as part of that process, as noted by WREG. The same report does not detail their locations or contents.
The investigation is ongoing, and its findings are expected to be sent to the district attorney general’s office, according to WREG. It is not yet known whether charges will be filed or what offenses investigators may consider.
