HONOLULU (KHON2) — Big Island Police say they’re looking into making changes after one of its K-9s died when he was left in a hot car. The incident has caught the attention of many, including the world’s largest animal rights group.
This is Archer’s last year doing his job for the Big Island Police Department at the Kona Airport. The 6-year-old Belgian Malinois/German Shepard mix was trained in sniffing out drugs. Sadly, his watch ended last Thursday after police say he was left in a police vehicle for an “unacceptable” amount of time.
“It’s been very rough,” said Interim Chief Reed Mahuna, Hawaii County Police Department. “And it’s, you know, it’s even made more, more hard because it’s preventable.”
And PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The group wrote a letter to interim Chief Mahuna asking for changes in the department’s K-9 team, like installing temperature monitoring systems in cars and reviewing standard operating procedures on leaving dogs in vehicles.
If not, the group says the department should stop using dogs altogether.
“Brave men and women who go out and put on the uniform and serve their communities every day deserve applause, but they choose to do that,” said Daniel Paden, PETA VP of Legal Advocacy. “They choose to put themselves in harm’s way for us. Canines don’t get that choice.”
“I thought the letter was reasonable,” said Mahuna. “These canines depend on us. They depend on us to care for them.”
Mahuna would not go into detail about HPD’s current policies.
According to PETA, 39 dogs have died in the line of duty across the country so far this year. Five of them from being trapped in hot cars.
Veterinarians say in general, it doesn’t take a long time for a dog to start suffering from the heat.
“But once it starts getting in that like 15 to 30 minute window, then that’s where they can start to get into the stress, depending on how hot it’s gotten in that car,” said Dr. Brian Walsh, veterinarian.
Mahuna did not specify how long Archer was in the vehicle. He says his handler is still on active duty but has been re-assigned.
“These are not pieces of equipment, these are members of the department, and there are also members of the department who depend on us 100% to care for them,” said Mahuna. “And we need to take a look at everything that we do to make sure something like this does not happen again.”
The incident remains under investigation.