Heartbreak in Houston as police are investigating the death of a 4-year-old K-9 who suffered heat exhaustion inside his squad car after the engine unexpectedly shut off on Monday.
The House Police Department shared that tragic news in a press release, noting that the car had several malfunctions, as it not only shut off but also failed to notify the officer that the engine had done so, a feature built into K-9 patrol cars.
The handler eventually returned to their squad car, where they found the dog in distress, quickly taking it to a clinic. However, it eventually died from the heat, the release shared.
“Please keep Aron’s handler and the entire K-9 team in your prayers as they mourn the loss of Aron,” police said.
Aron had served with the department for only a year and a half.
“The handler left Aron in a running, air-conditioned patrol vehicle, which is a necessary and common practice when the K-9 partner is not actively engaged in police work,” the statement said. “All HPD vehicles that transport K-9s will immediately be inspected by the vendor to ensure the systems are working properly.”
The weather in Houston was soaring Monday as temperatures reached as high as 95 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Cars in heat can be a death trap for dogs and humans both, as temperatures soar inside vehicles within minutes of the engine being shut off.
“On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes,” the Humane Society shared.
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