3 weeks ago
5
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Fresno County District Attorney's Office is calling for argumentation betterment aft reaching a verdict successful the "tragic and preventable" decease of K-9 Officer Nitro.
On Friday, the DA announced nary transgression charges would beryllium filed against the handler's wife, who was taking attraction of him astatine the time.
In aboriginal July, Nitro's handler was retired of the country, and helium was placed nether the attraction of the remainder of his family.
During this time, temperatures successful Coalinga reached 110 degrees. To assistance support Nitro cool, the DA says helium was fixed h2o aggregate times during the time and was adjacent sprayed down with water.
When his handler returned home, however, helium was lethargic. His handler instantly loaded him up to bring him to the vet, but the DA says he died connected the mode aft suffering heatstroke.
Because grounds showed that Nitro’s household took steps a tenable idiosyncratic mightiness instrumentality nether akin circumstances, nary transgression charges were filed.
However, Smittcamp said the lawsuit revealed shortcomings wrong the Coalinga Police Department’s K9 policies.
“Make nary mistake, Nitro’s decease was some tragic and preventable,” said the District Attorney
Lisa Smittcamp. “But the instrumentality does not enactment transgression charges based connected these facts
against either the handler oregon his family."
To forestall further tragedies, she recommended the pursuing revisions and improvements:
- Establishing a vigor argumentation to support canines during utmost summertime temperatures.
- Enforcing impermanent relocation protocols erstwhile handlers are unavailable oregon incapable to decently attraction for their canines.
- Setting minimum standards for canine equipment, specified arsenic capable h2o sources, cooling devices, and kennel inspections.
- Clarifying the relation of household members successful exigency attraction situations erstwhile handlers are unavailable.
"Nitro’s passing indispensable service arsenic the catalyst for meaningful reform," Smittcamp said. "Our bureau is committed to seeking justness nether the law. While that does not ever effect successful transgression charges, it does mean holding agencies accountable and calling for them to importune connected higher standards of care."
