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Regardless of the weather, hot or not- no animal should ever be left in a car, i dont care if the day is cool and the car well ventalated, a dog is not an umbrella to be left on back seat until needed. Punish the handler as harshly as possible and ban them from being responsible for any other dogs in the future.

- Aussie, Sydney, Australia, 05/08/2009 01:24
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If a police dog is attacked by a member of the public the charge is the same as attacking an officer of the law? Well what about torture like these two went through? These dogs would have most likely done a greater service to the police than a lot of so called officers would have. To the Nottinghamshire Police you have disgraced yourself the dogs should be honored like fallen officers of the law and the "handler" should be sacked or as some one suggested not be allowed to "handle" animals EVER. R.I.P

- Max Burnham, London, 30/07/2009 12:53
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It's hard to even imagine the agony these dogs went through basically being cooked alive in an enclosed space because of a very stupid individual who should feel guilt for a very long time. It's not rocket science. Hot day, car, animals = disaster.

- Caroline Barnsley, coventry, UK, 19/07/2009 16:10
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Extract from my letter to Julia Huson, Chief Constable.

What I find absolutely incredible and beyond belief is that a highly trained officer apparently left two dogs in a vehicle on a day when it would be obvious to any five year old that it was far too hot to do this and where the temperature would quickly become- and did- deadly. How could someone who is supposed to be attached to their dogs, highly trained to care for them and use them for police work do this? It really beggars belief and makes the police force loose all credibility. And what faith can we, the public, have in you the police, when your dog handlers display such ignorance and utter stupidity? And why is this particular handler not suspended while you establish why and how this happened. If this was a member of the public s/he would be facing prosecution for cruelty to animals. Are you the police above the law?

As a member of the public and a lover of dogs, who give their loyalty so unquestioningly to us humans, I would like to be assured that the officer responsible is, at the very least, never again allowed to be responsible for police dogs or any other pet and that you the police treat your dogs in the same way that every responsible pet owner does on a hot day!!!!!

The more people that write in the greater the impact!!

- Chris, Derbys, 16/07/2009 10:26
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This is no accident, how could anybody be so stupid as to leave 2 german shepherds in a van on a very hot day, it is disgusting and I hope he does go to prison, also he should not be working with dogs, what a waste of 2 lovely highly intelligent dogs. some people are so stupid words fail me.

- J.Mason, malaga. spain, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Please tell Howdy Doody the dog handler to stay away from dogs.
And...
Better yet tell Howdy to do what the police in my town do. Go to Dunkin Donuts for their free coffee and coop.
This is a tragic story.

- Richie, U.S.A., 16/07/2009 09:26
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Most places around here, the K-9 goes home and lives with the officer/family and becomes part of their lives.

It would appear that in this case at lest, these dogs are seen simply as tools, weapons, to be checked in and out by "trained" officers who take no interest in them after duty hours.

And sadly there are many people to whom a dog or other pet is simply a way to express their power, or wealth. We call this a "dick measuring contest" where one man tries to prove he's bigger, meaner, richer whatever than another based on how vicious, rare, expensive, etc his dog is.

A civilian would be on their way to jail by now.

- Trunk, US, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Its simple. Instantly sacked under Gross Misconduct. If it was two children it would be murder, or the least manslaughter.

My brief dealings with some of the PC's in Bracknell is they lie through their teeth to try and get a conviction and lie for each other to achieve this.

The law is there to be adhered to for everyone not pick and choose if people are Police or Politicians.

What numb nuts leave dogs in cars in this weather anyway, if they can kill innocent animals that are their to help them do their jobs I don't hold out much hope for them to catch a real criminal, after all it takes brains as well you know !!

I am totally disgusted.

- Gillian, Bracknell, UK, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Good job it wasn't in Korea!

- Steve, London, 16/07/2009 09:26
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i would imagine those in the police force that elect to work with animals are animal lovers and that given i would further envisage that the handler in question is devastated and never intended for this to happen.
not strictly an accident. an oversight, or misjudgement more likely.
but that said, members of the public who have similier lapses of judgement are subject to the full weight of legislation and as often as not the mitigating circumstances are not fully taken into account.
mortified, or not the police, rspca (or whatever) and other enforcement agenciesare only to quick to pounce and apply rules and punishment. the fact that the handler is a professional, with all the training, etc only serves to increase the lapse of judgement.
i would think if the circumstances were reversed, the handler would be horrified at the individuals behaviour and act accordingly to make an example and ram home the
point.

- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 16/07/2009 09:26
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For once, words fail me. No they don't - these officers are a disgrace and should either be sacked or demoted to cleaner.

And as for the picture - please tell the numpties it's no good saluting the ground and standing to attention for the cameras, as those two dogs, who wouldn't have hesitated in saving their handlers' lives, shouldn't be in the ground in the first place.

- Anil Chatterjee, Manchester, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Someone please tell me how the dogs were in a car when he was not at work? This means they had to have been left in a car over night, their should be supsensions for this!

- Paddy Mac, Kilburn, London, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Here we go again. A 'Tragic incident' for them, a criminal offence for Joe public. Why aren't we all subject to the same rules. Even I, in this cold northern outpost heard a rumour that it was going to be hot, and even I realise that you don't lock animals behind glass and thin metal. The handler was trained to look after these animals, some training. Never mind, LESSONS WILL BE LEARNED, but nowt done!

- Alan, carlisle uk, 16/07/2009 09:26
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As usual, it is one law for the police and a totally different one for the under trodden citizens. The handler is presumably trained that you do not keep dogs in locked cars in hot weather or maybe the training is just restricted to teaching dogs how to attack the public they are supposed to protect. Either way, the RSPCA should press charges. Unlike your average John Doe, the officer has a higher degree of care because he is trained specifically to look after dogs rather than just keep them as pets and he failed in that duty of care and should be treated accordingly under the law.

- Andrew, Brentford, 16/07/2009 09:26
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That so called dog handler should never again be allowed near dogs again. How stupid do you have to be to leave two dogs in a car in this heat? Are they employing lobotomised dog handlers these days?

- Miles, London, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Poor creatures what a horrible way to die!. The handler should be prosecuted and banned permanently from dog handling duties.This situation is unbelievable considering the training these officers go through. It does make you wonder at the calibre of recruits the police force are taking on now!

- Laura, Ashtead UK, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Its disgusting! Not only should they be prosecuted but they should be considered for dismissal...they failed miserably in their role as a dog handler. I'd expect this behaviour of a mindless yob not someone who actually works with animals for a living and is supposed to be trained! I feel ill at the thought of the death those dogs suffered and can only hope that some justice will be done! A fine is not enough!

- Emma, Northern Ireland, 16/07/2009 09:26
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'A statement from Nottinghamshire Police said the welfare of its animals was "of paramount importance".'
I beg to differ, if it was then they wouldn't have 2 canine corpses and an RSPCA investigation on their hands. Or perhaps they mean "paramount importance" in the same context as solving crime, i.e. as long as it makes our figures looks high who cares that we're nicking people for littering?

- Bob, Cheam, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Lets put those officers in the back of a van in this heat and see how long they last !. They have no idea how to treat animals and should be sent back to pounding the beat oh no sorry thats a thing of the past back to sitting on there backsides and racing through the streets then !

- Linda Cliff, London, 16/07/2009 09:26
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The officer should be booted out as he clearly doesn't have the brain power to fulfil his role to serve the public.

- Mike M, Bedford England, 16/07/2009 09:26
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Our police get worse and worse. We know the kind of brain-dead thugs they employ: no different from the ones they chase after at high speed, putting the public in mortal danger as they go. It's about time we the public had a greater say in how our police operate.
As for those responsible: name and shame them and impose the full penalty of the law . Don't issue bland managerial statements about the force's dedication to animal welfare, and take down that insulting picture of officers saluting the dead animals. We can see it for the cynical damage-limitation exercise it is.

- Terry Peers, Bridgwater, Somerset, 16/07/2009 09:26
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he wants throwing out the force and have the maximum sentence imposed on him
how do people who supposed to set a good example get off on doing things like this

- Jon, stoke uk, 16/07/2009 09:26
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If this had been Jo Public someone would have been prosecuted - and rightly so. No one has even been suspended. Best bit of all is that tha police are investigting themselves - again. What a carve up. No wonder the Police are so unpopular with Mr. and Mrs. Average in Britain now. They invesigate themselves, act as judge and jury, find nothing to be guilty of and then hope that something comes up to take the publicity off them for a bit. There was a case some years back where the handlers were hanging the dogs up by their chokechains to "make them obedient". I don't ever remember an end to this case either. God alone knows what this Force do to their working horses to make them obedient.


Amber in Mitcham

- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey, 16/07/2009 09:26
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I had a son who at 25, used to remove snails from the pavements, hedgehogs from the road lest they suffer. He died when someone in a rush killed him with his van as he cycled to be fit, and be kind to our world.

He did these things with no obligation. That police handler carried an obligation, yet ignored it. Why?

Because he was in a club that looks after it's own and does not really care about the reasons it is there for.

- Dave Maynard, Reading Berkshire, 16/07/2009 09:26
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They should be prosecuted - the fact that they are dog handlers is an aggravating factor which actually makes this offence more serious. the officers concerned should have been aware of the risks involved and acted accordingly. You never, ever, leave a dog unattended in a car in temperatures like this. Horrendous. I just hope that the RSPCA does treat this with the seriousness the offence merits and isn't deterred by the fact that it is the Police they are dealing with.

- Inéz L Collier, Epping, Essex, 16/07/2009 09:26
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