A London, England Metropolitan Police dog handler has reportedly tried to kill himself after two police dogs he left in the back of his car on one of the hottest days of the year died.
British media is reporting that Sergeant Ian Craven jumped from a colleague’s vehicle and later slashed his wrists when he learned that the two dogs had died.
The two dogs, a Belgian Malinois named Chay and a five-month-old German Shepherd puppy named Milly, died Sunday after Craven allegedly left the animals in the back of an unventilated car at the police force’s dog training center for an unspecified amount of time.
Temperatures in London on Sunday reached 29 C. The temperature inside a car can reach as high was 47 C within an hour when the outside temperature is just 22 C, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The RSPCA stated that officers were somehow made aware that the two dogs were in the back of the vehicle during the day. They smashed the windows, pulled the animals out and quickly doused them with water. But by the time the dogs were taken to a vet, they had died.
“Two dogs have died that shouldn’t have,” said Police Commander Bob Broadhurst.
Craven, 49, is now the subject of an investigation led by the RSPCA. He could face animal cruelty charges. Under Britain’s Animal Welfare Act, pet owners are legally obligated to provide good care for their animals.
Sadly, this is the second time the officer — a 30-year veteran of the force — is alleged to have left animals to die in the backseat of his car. In 2004, he was reprimanded for allegedly leaving a Spaniel in a baking-hot car on a July day. That dog also died.
Jan Creamer, chief executive of Animal Defenders International, said she feels for the officer in question and understands that the ordeal was “hugely traumatic,” but emphasized that the “golden rule” for dog owners is to never leave the animals in hot cars.
“While we do not doubt that this was a tragic accident, we would have thought that the dog unit should be setting an example to others, and we would question why dogs were in the car at all as there are kenneling facilities at the training center,” Creamer said.
“Surely it should have been standard operating procedures to put the dogs in kennels on hot days.”
He should never have been allowed near a dog after his first mistake.
My name is Beryl and I live in Saskatoon Canada…..I totally agree with you – how was he ever allowed to be in charge of any kind of animals after the first incident….Sadly, I have to remark on another message on here…..animals are not equipped or know how to open a door of a vehicle…while it is very sad that some humans, mostly babies and children are forgotten (I will never know how they can be forgotten!!!), there is always an investigation that takes place after anyone dies and dogs or any animal deserve no less.
Hundreds of people have died in the custody of the British Police over the years without so much as an apology. That’s actual human beings. 2 dogs die and an investigation is immediately launched and the media are all over it.
Following a term of imprisonment he should be sacked along with the senior management who promoted him after his first killing.
This is a post about animals, should a human investigation be warranted, I would suggest one of the multitudes of human rights organizations/advocacies and the government be alerted. Animals have no voice “guest,” and these animals depended totally on their caretaker who baked them in the back of his car. Worse yet, it wasn’t the first time he’s done it. Clearly he has a substance abuse problem or some sort of mental condition that should preclude him from caring for these dogs. Have you ever been overheated, it’s miserable, and as sad as his suicide attempt(s) are, I feel more sorry for the dogs.
makes me so sad…when all they did was give unconditional love…;(
Wow! A second time offender. I wonder what’s really going on inside his mind. Just sad. And very very odd.
Wow! A second time offender. I wonder what’s really going on inside his mind. Just sad. And very very odd.
It seems this officer has to common sense when it comes to the care of animals. The first time he left a dog in a hot car, should have been his last time. Why would they then let him have more dogs on the job? I see this all the time happening here in Canada. People need to think twice about taking their dogs with them on a hot day, sure the dog will enjoy the car ride, but not being left in a hot car to be roasted like a turkey in a hot oven!!!
The officer should be fired and jailed. WTF was the police department thinking letting him have more dogs after he killed the first one?!
this guy is a criminal he need to be dispose
WE NEVER TAKE OUR DOGS IN THE CAR ON HOT OR COLD DAYS!! THEY ARE ALWAYS HOME WHERE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE. HOW COULD HE FORGET, AND AT A TRAINING CENTER, WAS THERE NO ONE THAT PASSED THAT CAR ALL DAY?? HOW THEY MUST HAVE SUFFERED!!
Lol. It’s all very cool
OMG!!! That’s horrible!! That is something that should NEVER have
happened!! There’s simply NO EXCUSE for animals or babies dying in hot
cars…. I don’t care who you are!! And police at that!? NO EXCUSES…..
this has to stop!!! Where has common sense disappeared to in this
world???
I don’t even take my dogs with me on hot days….. this guy should NOT have been allowed any more animals after the first incident….. what the heck was the UK Police thinking?!
intresting post! thanks a lot! dogs are amazing!