Island District RCMP are investigating the actions of a West Shore RCMP officer who left a dog baking in a police truck at the Goldstream Boathouse on Wednesday.
A young German shepherd was left in a police truck for at least three hours, with windows cracked but exposed to the noonday sun, according to witnesses.
Cpl. Darren Lagan said senior RCMP officers in Victoria are reviewing the circumstances and actions around the dog being left in the vehicle for an extended period of time. The dog is reported to be in good health with no ill effects.
RCMP initiated the review after Chek B次元官网网址 aired footage of boathouse employees working to keep the animal cool by feeding it water and erecting a tent over the truck.
Lagan said the review isnB次元官网网址檛 a criminal investigation, but the West Shore officer will have to answer for his actions. ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear if the officer could face punishment or sanctions if he found to be negligent.
The Victoria SPCA has confirmed it is launching its own investigation of the incident. B次元官网网址淚t will be investigated,B次元官网网址� said animal protection officer Erika Paul. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the same as any dog in a vehicle in this weather.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淐ertainly we would welcome that. Our standards are high across the board and this is an isolated incident,B次元官网网址� Lagan said. B次元官网网址淚n the end the dog is fine and healthy, but that doesnB次元官网网址檛 negate the risk. There certainly are questions around (the officerB次元官网网址檚) decisions and actions, which is why the review is convened.B次元官网网址�
Goldstream Boathouse Marina employee Darrell Taylor said the officer showed up in a police vehicle around noon on Wednesday. He was joined by a woman and two kids, and they boated into Finlayson Arm.
Taylor said it didnB次元官网网址檛 take long for the dog to start barking, which soon turned into whimpering. It was about 26 C outside, he said, and the vehicle was parked in the open.
B次元官网网址淚t was crazy hot. She was whimpering and whining. I could tell she was in distress,B次元官网网址� Taylor said. B次元官网网址淚t was scary. I could feel the heat radiating off her.B次元官网网址�
Employees erected a tent over the vehicle and started hosing it down to reduce the interior temperature. Taylor used a hose to keep the dogB次元官网网址檚 water dish filled.
After about three hours, another RCMP officer came by and drove off with the truck and dog. The original officer didnB次元官网网址檛 come back from his boat trip for several more hours, Taylor said.
B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe this was a police vehicle,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f this had been any one of us, weB次元官网网址檇 would be charged right now.B次元官网网址�
Lagan said the officer in question is a regular RCMP member, not a dog handler. The officer volunteered to train and assess the young shepherd as a police dog candidate. B次元官网网址淭his is something officers are passionate about, and chose to do beyond their regular work,B次元官网网址� Lagan said. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately this decision may negatively impact this officerB次元官网网址檚 position (training dogs) after putting in hundreds of hours towards this.B次元官网网址�
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