LAKE STATION, IN – Numerous dogs who were slated to attend a K9 training facility reportedly died earlier in July after authorities say the transport vehicle they were being held in suffered an air conditioning failure which led to many of the dogs’ demise.
While officials haven’t detailed the exact number of deceased dogs resulting from the incident, authorities did confirm that a total of 18 German Shepherds were being transported from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport over to a training facility in Michigan City, Indiana when the air conditioning failure occurred on July 27th.
Officials from the Lake City Police Department in Indiana stated that the driver of the transport vehicle in question, who has not been identified by officials as of this writing, was caught in two-hour traffic jam when it’s believed the air conditioning in the vehicle cargo area went awry.
Following the failure of the air conditioning unit, temperatures inside of the vehicle cargo area became increasingly high, resulting in some of the dogs suffering from heat-related medical distress.
The driver became aware that something wasn’t right as the dogs inside of the cargo area began barking, leading to the driver pulling into a gas station amid the Lake Station area to check on their wellbeing. Upon inspecting the cargo area and realizing the dogs were in distress, the driver reportedly rushed to get them out of their crates.
Local police and firefighters arrived on the scene shortly thereafter to assist in trying to save as many of the dogs as possible, however, most of the German Shepherds did not survive.
Despite authorities not having confirmed the number of deceased dogs stemming from the incident, the executive director of the Humane Society of Hobart, Jenny Webber, claims that only four of the 18 dogs survived the horrific incident.
Webber, who reportedly was among those who directly responded to the scene alongside authorities, hardly minced her words when admonishing those involved in what she believes to have been a transport situation where protocol wasn’t followed.
“I don’t think any veterinarian would’ve signed off on their health certificate given the temperature and the exposure that those pets would’ve been under. I’m not even quite sure if they had any of that paperwork or any of the documentation they should’ve had.”
The four surviving German Shepherds were reportedly treated at Hobart Animal Clinic, with Webber adding that the remaining dogs were clearly in critical condition as a result of “suffering from heat stroke.”
Law enforcement officials are currently not treating this incident as an act of neglect or animal cruelty, rather erring on the side of this tragic outcome being the result of an unintended machinal failure.
Webber doesn’t seem too content with the answers, or lack thereof, coming from law enforcement regarding the incident, stating, “It’s very confusing, very disheartening, and I would like a call from the chief of police immediately.”
Gregory Hoyt is a former contributor to outlets such as Law Enforcement Today and Red Voice Media, and current host of The Breakdown with Greg Hoyt. Based out of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Hoyt is a staunch and outspoken advocate of law enforcement and first responders, while also harboring the unique experience of having spent nearly 5 years in prison. Since then, he's used his unique perspective to offer support and commentary about the criminal justice system. When not working or combating bad ideas, Hoyt also leisurely studies economics, history, and law.