Police Dogs

[christina]

Sorry people but I've got to sound off, I realise this is probably the wrong place to do it:

I was under the impression that police dog handlers treated their dogs as one of the family and knew everything there is to know about dog handling...how come then that one stupid copper left his dogs in a car to die? What sort of morons are being employed by this government/police force?

The dog handler is going to lay flowers in memory of the dogs - big deal, will that bring back those dogs, will it help the suffering that those dogs suffered? Grrrrr....I am absolutely furious! In fact, I am sooo very angry that I really feel I could punch a policeman, just because.....

Thank you for letting me get that off my chest!

[Lance Morgan]

I would'nt punch a policeman if I were you
We don't know the full story of what happened it could have been a failure in the vehicles internal cooling system or something. I and i agree with you that if he simply forgot the dogs then he has no place being a policeman.

[charlieb]

Have you got a link to the story?

[pressld2]

I agree with Lance - we need to know the full story of exactly what happened. But if it does turn out to have been just carelessness then the handler should be prosecuted the same as any member of the public would be.

Dave P.

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by charlieb

Have you got a link to the story?

Hare's a link;

The Press Association: Donated police dogs die in hot car

Having been a police officer, none of the dog handlers I know could have done this, the dogs would have been brought into the station rather than leaving them in the car. All of the dog handlers I knew would have put their dogs comfort well ahead of their own.

[christina]

Earthdragon, times have changed, nowadays people think about themselves first and that includes policemen....we, the general public, are constantly being told do not leave your animals or children in your car on a hot day...he left the dogs in the car, whether he forgot them or not, he left them and should be sacked, fined and imprisoned and banned from ever keeping animals again...sorry to be harsh, no Im not sorry....he did wrong and should be punished for it just as we, the general public, would be!

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by christina

Earthdragon, times have changed, nowadays people think about themselves first and that includes policemen....we, the general public, are constantly being told do not leave your animals or children in your car on a hot day...he left the dogs in the car, whether he forgot them or not, he left them and should be sacked, fined and imprisoned and banned from ever keeping animals again...sorry to be harsh, no Im not sorry....he did wrong and should be punished for it just as we, the general public, would be!

Once the investigation is complete, if he has been found to have deliberately or carelessly left the dogs in the car, then in my opinion, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In cases like this, Police Officers should be held to higher standards than ordinary members of the public, they should know better.

However, as with ordinary members of the public, he is entitled to a fair investigation and is innocent until proven guilty. We don't know enough about the full circumstances at the moment, the dogs may have been left in the car with air-conditioning on which subsequently failed.

[onemind]

you will note the handler not suspended and you should also note that if you did it you would be arrested and charged and as for aircon what air con the vent fitted to police vans is run by twelve volt fan if not turned on it wont work plain stupid crulty and he should be removed and prosecuted but sadly he wont be

[BloomingMarvellous]

Surely if it was down to equipment failure then no blame can be pointed at the Police Officer in question.

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by onemind

you will note the handler not suspended and you should also note that if you did it you would be arrested and charged and as for aircon what air con the vent fitted to police vans is run by twelve volt fan if not turned on it wont work plain stupid crulty and he should be removed and prosecuted but sadly he wont be

Have a look at the link in my first post on this thread, nowhere is a police van mentioned, the dogs were in a private car, some cars do have air-conditioning. Also, if you did it you certainly wouldn't be charged until after an investigation.

If this police officer is found to be at fault, then I hope that he certainly is charged and thrown off the force.

[christina]

I doubt he will be "thrown out of the force" earthdragon64. Far too often nowadays are the police, government and other official bodies found failing in their duty and nothing, absolutely nothing is done about it...in fact, most opt to resign and take a very nice pension with them, thanks to the taxpaying public. It sickens me to my heart that our so called "betters" are never prosecuted. Grrr. The debate that's going on re Mr Biggs for instance...he SHOULD be released, we all know how much it costs to keep a prisoner in prison, just think about how much additional money is being spent on him with his two guards day and night at his hospital bed...economics should come into it but Mr Straw's pride and political stance is more important....I shall stop now as I feel my blood pressure rising and I might just type some words that are banned!

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by BloomingMarvellous

Surely if it was down to equipment failure then no blame can be pointed at the Police Officer in question.

Dogs shouldn't be left in cars (with air conditioning on) for this very reason because equipment does fail, especially in this heat.

[A-daisy-a-day]

IMO there is absolutely no excuse for this, as soon as there is any sort of heatwae it's banged into us with the slogan DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS, it's not something new, it's a fact of every hot day, and whether you are police or Joe Public the message ought to have got through by now.
Anyone old enough to drive a car and have ownership of a dog should be held responsible. The vet called to the dogs gave agraphic description of what happens to the dogs and said they would have died in great distress, It makes my blood boil, but made me weep for these dogs. I've owned and trained three GSD's and know the bond that is created, but, though small consolation, the handler will suffer by his own consciense.

[Gill Catton]

Absolutely this person will suffer mentally for what they have done. I don't think you can be a dog handler without a love for the animals.

But I think it is important to note that although pretty much everyone knows that dogs die in hot cars but not many know that this can happen in less than 5 minutes. I certainly didn't know this until this story broke.
This person is human and we all make stupid stupid mistakes sometimes and are just lucky that the very worst doesn't. Sometimes the very worst does happen.

It wouldn't suprise me if this person doesn't ever want to be a dog handler again.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by christina

..... The debate that's going on re Mr Biggs for instance...he SHOULD be released, .......economics should come into it but Mr Straw's pride and political stance is more important....

Mr Biggs clubbed an innocent man down and this man never fully recovered from the injuries inflicted by Biggs, he ruined the rest of the mans' life. Biggs deserves what he gets.

[NickCantle]

Still, laying flowers is a bit over the top in my opinion

[Jenny W]

The flippin' police think they are above the law and that they own the place nowadays - I for one, have no time for them.

Sorry to have to say that but I've had little respect for the police ever since I came home from work one night last year to find a cop car parked in my driveway - blocking my access to my car port - whilst the idiot was down the road doing speed checks (hiding the car from passing motorists in my driveway because there is a dense hedge there)! No apology or anything when I confronted him - I had to phone and make a complaint in order to get an apology! (sorry gone off topic - just had to explain why I don't generally like police).

[Lance Morgan]

Earth Dragon is correct. The investigation will be concluded and if handler was negligent then he will be disciplined appropriately. Even policemen make mistakes for heavens sake.
As for Biggs, he has never had any remorse and has openly admitted it, he was a career criminal and that is why he should remain in prison. IMO

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Jenny W

The flippin' police think they are above the law and that they own the place nowadays - I for one, have no time for them.

Sorry to have to say that but I've had little respect for the police ever since I came home from work one night last year to find a cop car parked in my driveway - blocking my access to my car port - whilst the idiot was down the road doing speed checks (hiding the car from passing motorists in my driveway because there is a dense hedge there)! No apology or anything when I confronted him - I had to phone and make a complaint in order to get an apology! (sorry gone off topic - just had to explain why I don't generally like police).

That is unacceptable behaviour, but unfortunately typical of how the revenue from speeding seems to have become more important than responsible community policing.

However, I've very little respect for a fair few of the general public, the ones who think that laws should be upheld unless of course, they are the ones caught breaking them.

[christina]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Mr Biggs clubbed an innocent man down and this man never fully recovered from the injuries inflicted by Biggs, he ruined the rest of the mans' life. Biggs deserves what he gets.

It was never established who clubbed Jack Mills and Mr Biggs played a minor part in the robbery (allegedly).

My point was not in defence of Mr Biggs, (believe me, I despise the criminal fraternity, I worked bloomin hard all my life and have paid thousands to keep those in prison via my taxes!) but this country is in a mess, with a capital M, we have people being knived on the streets, shot on the streets, women being raped and battered and old people being battered in their homes. Releasing Mr Biggs would free up ONE cell for one of the above criminals and two prison guards who are with him 24/7...he is now in his own prison, his useless body...I know he came back to use the NHS when he was ill, he has served one third of his prison sentence and I believe if the prison sentences now were still as harse as they were then, perhaps we wouldnt have so many murderers, rapists, and robbers on the streets. As I said, its economical to release him. Sorry gone of subject.

You just don't leave animals or children in cars, whether the weather be hot or cold!

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

Mr Biggs clubbed an innocent man down and this man never fully recovered from the injuries inflicted by Biggs, he ruined the rest of the mans' life. Biggs deserves what he gets.

I agree Ben but I think the poster was comparing what Biggs did to what criminals do today and the leniency of the sentences. I have always held the opinion that if you murder someone, you don't get out of jail unless it's in a box.

[Fourwings]

Lets try and keep this on topic folks, this thread is not about personal feelings for the Police or the merits of Ronny Biggs detention.

The loss of these dogs is tragic, I own an 8 month old GSD and this story really hits home, but I agree with Lance and Earthdragon, lets wait and get the full facts about what happened before we send out the lynch mob.
I know from experience just how strong the bond is between Police handler and dog and cannot begin to imagine how much of a devastating effect this will have on their handler wether he is guilty of any offence or not.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Hopefully this incident will prevent the loss of Human life.

[Ciderpuss]

I am following this story with interest ,I personally believe the policeman in question should have been suspended untill the investigation has been completed.
I also appreciate that he has no doubt felt responsible for the suffering he has caused but this is a criminal offence and so should be treated as such.

[A-daisy-a-day]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Absolutely this person will suffer mentally for what they have done. I don't think you can be a dog handler without a love for the animals.

But I think it is important to note that although pretty much everyone knows that dogs die in hot cars but not many know that this can happen in less than 5 minutes. I certainly didn't know this until this story broke.
This person is human and we all make stupid stupid mistakes sometimes and are just lucky that the very worst doesn't. Sometimes the very worst does happen.

It wouldn't suprise me if this person doesn't ever want to be a dog handler again.

I certainly wouldn't want to be a police dog handler if I was in his shoes, the more I've thought of the case the sorrier I feel for the man, not of course thinking it's excusable, definitely not, but if the publicity helps get the message through and possible save other dogs from the same fate, well at least some good has come of it, I don't think any good will come of prosecuting the handler, I feel his lesson will have been well learned and he will have to live with it, as a dog lover and owner, I think this would be punishment enough.