Alabama police dog dies after being left in patrol car

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WKRG) — A K-9 officer with the Gulf Shores Police Department has died after he was left inside a hot patrol car.

The dog’s name was Mason.

According to WKRG-TV, the K-9 officer was left inside the patrol car on Thursday, June 18. The dog and his handler, Corporal Josh Coleman, had attended the Hurricane Prep conference in Gulf Shores.

Coleman says he forgot Mason was in the backseat and left the dog inside the patrol car. No word on how long the dog stayed inside the vehicle.

Corporal Coleman found the dog in distress once he noticed Mason was missing. The dog was rushed to a veterinarian. The dog was then transported to another vet in Pensacola.

Gulf Shores police say the dog was improving Friday morning, but died later in the evening. The Gulf Shores Police Department acquired Mason on November 17, 2014. The department just celebrated the dog’s third birthday on June 9.

The police department consulted with the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office and Corporal Coleman will not face criminal charges. He does face “sanctions” with the police department and city.

Click here, to read the full City of Gulf Shores press release.