Phoenix's finest, now murdering more dogs!

I grant that I'm naturally inclined to view using police dogs as slightly inhumane to begin with. It's inhumane to the dogs to put them at that risk, and it's inhumane to whoever Officer Jackboots decides needs to be taken down. I'm not a huge fan, but I do admit that there are some legitimate uses (bomb detection, mostly, and rescue efforts).

And whenever a police dog dies, there's inevitably some human interest feature in the local paper about how Buddy or Dingo was such a great member of the police force, and the handler cries. There's a whole big PR show from the police department about how well-treated and loved these dogs are and such, right?

Right.

Because obviously you show your love and respect to a dedicated, well-trained animal by leaving it locked in a car for TWELVE HOURS in the Phoenix heat.

“I am certain Sgt. Lovejoy has suffered greatly from leaving his police dog in a sweltering car,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement. “I do not relish the idea of compounding his sadness. However, Lovejoy must be treated like anyone else in similar circumstances.”

Oh, like hell the officer - who could have, you know, not locked his dog in a car - suffered. The dog suffered.

Who here is willing to bet that Officer Lovejoy will get, at absolute most, a mild scolding? Anyone else would be charged with a felony. If this guy doesn't at least get hit with every penalty in the code it's a serious injustice; I personally think he should lose his badge, permanently. ("Oh, you directly and intentionally caused a dog a slow, painful death? Sure, keep your gun and your de facto right to do whatever the hell you want in the name of 'public safety'!")

Bonus quote from the Animal Defense League of Arizona:

If an animal's life is in immediate danger, call 911*
If not a life-threatening emergency, click here for info on reporting cruelty and neglect.
*It may be necessary to remind the 911 representative that Arizona law mandates that police enforce the state's animal cruelty statutes.

*sigh*.