A police dog from Alabama died after his handler accidentally
Left him in a patrol car on a hot day when temperatures reached up to 87F.
Mason, three, was left in the backseat of Corporal Josh
Coleman's car on Thursday during a hurricane preparation conference in Gulf
Shores.
The Gulf Shores Police Department Facebook page shared a
photograph of Mason inside the conference center prior to his untimely death.
Temperatures in the area on Thursday were an average of 84F
with a high of 87F, according to Weather Underground.
Mason served as the community relations dog for Gulf Shores
Police. The department shared a pictured of Mason on its Facebook page just
hours before Mason was locked inside the sweltering police vehicle.
"We are at the City of Gulf Shores - Municipal Government
Hurricane
Preparedness Expo! We will be here until 2:00 p.m. Swing by and register
for a free coffee mug and say HI to Officer Mason!" the Facebook post said.
Fox reports Mason served as the Community Relations dog for
Gulf Shores Police and that the department recently celebrated the pooch’s
third birthday on June 9.
Police say because Mason wasn't an enforcement k-9,
Coleman's car wasn't equipped with heat alarms, water bowls and other
protective measures that would exist in a K-9 handler's vehicle.
When Coleman found Mason in the car, he was in dire shape
and seriously dehydrated. Coleman rushed Mason to a vet and the dog was later
transferred to an advanced animal facility in Pensacola.
The beloved dog died on Friday at around 11:00 p.m. despite
showing some minor improvements that morning.
No criminal charges are being filed but the city and the
department are enforcing 'sanctions' against Coleman.
This situation has been devastating for Cpl. Coleman and
his family and we hope that they are able to work through their understandable
emotions.
"This is a tragic occurrence that has left the entire
organization mourning a terrible loss.
It also illustrates how easy it is to become distracted,
and how quickly heat can affect those that we love that are particularly
vulnerable to it
Please keep this in mind when transporting children, pets,
or the elderly," said the police department in a statement.
Mason was a popular dog with the police department and they
often posted photos of him to their Facebook page carrying out ‘canine police
duties.’
In April they posted a photo of Mason with the department
Telecommunicator Natalie Wilson.
"Officer Mason presented Natalie with a certificate to
recognize her dedicated service to the community and support of GSPD operations
in the field. Please join us in thanking Natalie for a job well done!," said
the post from April 17.
Mason worked with the Department since last November as a
public relations dog and a therapy dog for victims of crime.
Sadly this is not the first time this year that a police
officer has left a dog to die in a hot car. In May, two police dogs died after
their handler apparently left them in his vehicle for hours as temperatures
reached as high as 86F (30C).
Hialeah police officer Nelson Enriquez drove to his Davie,
Florida, home early on Wednesday following his midnight shift and left the dogs
inside his marked police car in his driveway.
He found Jimmy, a seven-year-old bloodhound, and Hector, a
four-year-old Belgian Malinois, dead inside the vehicle around 7:00 p.m.
In a further tragic twist, Jimmy was donated to the police
department by the father of a nine-year-old murder victim to assist with
missing children investigations, according to a 2009 NBC Miami report.
The bloodhound, who was five months old at the time, was
donated by Don Ryce whose son, Jimmy, was abducted a block from his home, raped
and then murdered in 1995.
The child's killer, Juan Carlos Chavez, was sentenced to
death for the murder.
Left in a hot car: Mason, 3, died last Friday after being
left in the backseat of Corporal Josh Coleman's car on Thursday during a
hurricane preparation conference in Gulf Shores.
Earlier that day: The Gulf Shores Police Department
Facebook page shared a photograph of Mason inside the conference center just
hours before he was left to cook in the heat.
Birthday dog: Mason served as the Community Relations dog
for the Gulf Shores Police Department who celebrated the pooch’s third birthday
on June 9.
Public relations: In April the department posted a photo of Mason congratulating the department telecommunicator Natalie Wilson on her achievements.
Holiday time: Mason was present as the police department helped out with a holiday teddy bear drive.
Part of the police family: Mason worked with the department since November as a public relations dog and a therapy dog for victims of crime.
The beloved department dog died on Friday at around 11pm
despite showing some minor improvements that morning
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