It was all a hoax to cover up the fact that the lovable 4-year-old pooch is dead. He died of heatstroke Sunday evening after being left outside in sweltering temperatures.
On Wednesday, the director of the clinic that cared for him, Patrick Sexton, broke the news in a statement that read:
“Tech XX was a member of our immediate family and a daily part of our lives for the past four years. We are devastated over the circumstances of his passing, and there will be a large void in our hearts for some time to come.
The statement also noted that the employee responsible for the dog’s death “chose to handle [his error in judgment] the wrong way” and that he “is no longer employed by Sexton Animal Health Center.”
But the statement comes as cold comfort to fans of the team and to pet rights activists everywhere, who are shocked. One of them, Pam Miller, told station KNOE that the dog’s death was “preventable.
So, let's prevent it from ever happening again.” Miller also demanded a complete investigation into the animal's demise, adding that bulldogs drool and pant when they overheat. Both should have been recognized as warning signs by Tech XX's caretaker.
Other alumni of the university are calling for animal cruelty charges to be brought against the employee.
(Examiner - August 2, 2012)
