Two police dogs and two other four-legged friends died – as reported – in mid-August after a jog with a service dog handler “with a high degree of probability from overheating of acute cardiovascular failure (heat stroke)”. According to the state police department of Lower Austria on Wednesday, this emerges from the pathological findings of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna.
The cause is determined by the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria, which is now also conducting inquiries into animal cruelty at the service dog handler. A criminal assessment is then carried out by the competent public prosecutor’s office or the court. Any resulting official measures are the responsibility of the Lower Austria Provincial Police Headquarters.Died after a jogging tourThe service dog handler, who was described as experienced, was jogging in his free time on August 16th in the midday hours in a forest area at temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius – his Belgian shepherd, the Malinois- A colleague’s service dog and two private four-legged friends. According to police, the animals wore muzzles. One of the dogs showed signs of exhaustion, which is why the officer stopped the run and drove home. On the way home, all the animals – three Malinois and a German shepherd – died in the man’s vehicle. They will not be used as police service dog handlers until further notice, according to the authority.
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