According to Smithfield Police Sergeant Travis Allen, the Labrador Retriever named Lola went missing last Thursday from the home of Paula Purser in Hyde Park.
The dog was picked up by a Smithfield animal control officer only a few hours later, and the officer left the dog in an open cage at the Smithfield City operations building.
Allen said the officer forgot about the dog until returning to work on Monday when he found that the dog had died, most likely from dehydration and heat exhaustion. Allen said the dog was given some water and food, but not enough for more than a day.
Allen said that the officer told his superiors about the incident after the discovery of Lola's death. The Smithfield Police chief called the local Humane Society about Lola's fate, and the Humane Society representative contacted Purser to tell her the bad news.
Allen said that Purser had tried to locate Lola through local media postings and the Humane Society since Lola went missing.
Allen said the police chief spoke with Purser about Lola's death and conveyed how sorry the animal control officer was that Lola had been forgotten.
Purser wanted to retrieve Lola's remains, but Allen said the dog had been disposed at the Logan City landfill.
Allen said the officer who forgot about Lola later delivered a letter of resignation to Smithfield Police, along with a letter of apology to Purser. His resignation was accepted.
Allen said an internal investigation was underway. No charges against the officer were filed, pending an investigation.
(ABC 4 News - July 1, 2011)
