Two police dogs die in car after being left alone and ‘air-con failed’
It’s thought a broken air-conditioning unit lead to the deaths of two police dogs left in a car.
The German shepherds – known as Police Dog Xtra and Development Dog Soldier – were discovered dead inside a police vehicle in Sydney, Australia yesterday.
Dog handlers from New South Wales Police had been attending a command development day at a facility in Lucas Heights and their cars, which feature air-conditioned pods for the dogs, were parked outside.
‘About 12.30pm, the handler [responsible for dogs that died) conducted a routine check, finding PD Xtra and DD Soldier deceased in the police vehicle,’ a police spokesperson said.
‘They were taken to a specialist veterinary clinic but were unable to be revived.’
The police launched an investigation into the deaths shortly after and earlier today NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told ABC Radio Sydney it’s thought the air-con unit in the pod had failed.
The temperature in Sydney midday yesterday was around 25C. It’s not clear how long the dogs were in the car.
Ms Webb added: ‘What we do know is that we suspect a technical issue and no human error.’
She said the investigation would ‘see if that’s the issue and why in fact that happened because that’s not meant to happen at all’.
Ms Webb described the dogs as ‘two valuable members of our organisation’ and said everyone was ‘devastated’ at their deaths.
Yesterday Police Transport and Public Safety Commander Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said the loss of the dogs would be felt deeply by the force.
‘Our focus is on the welfare of all staff involved with ongoing support services made available to them,’ he added.
Police Dog Xtra was accredited as a general-purpose dog in July 2018 and attached to the Newcastle and Central Coast Dog Unit.
Development Dog Soldier started service with the Dog Unit in February 2024 for training and development.
In July this year a police dog called Zyla died after chasing a wanted man into water in Birstall, Leicestershire.
The 27-year-old man was found soon after and arrested on suspicion of murder, before being further arrested for animal cruelty.
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