Tennessee: Hardeman County Officer Robert Strickland left his K9 partner to cook to death in boiling hot patrol car

TENNESSEE -- A K-9 service dog was found dead in his kennel after being left in a hot car. His handler now faces animal cruelty charges.

According to the report from Hardeman County, the handler, Officer Robert Strickland, with Hardeman County Correctional Facility, said he went to an off-site training for work Tuesday.

Hardeman County Correctional Facility

When he arrived at the site of the training, Family Restaurant, he was met with a complaint about employee parking.

Strickland said he "accidentally" turned off the car's engine with the windows rolled up and his K-9, Kilo, in the car's kennel.

He didn't check on the dog for a couple hours, but when he did, the dog was unresponsive and not breathing. Strickland began CPR on his dog, but the dog died.

Hardeman County Correctional Facility is a privately operated medium security facility run by Corrections Corporation of America. It has a maximum bed capacity of 2,016. Under the leadership of Warden Grady Perry, the facility had three K-9 service dogs until this death.

Officials said the cost of the dog is estimated to be $5,000.

Strickland is charged with cruelty to animals. Strickland is currently on paid administrative leave from the prison.

Strickland is also a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard.

I'm sure they'll use this as part of his defense.

Corrections Corporation of America spokesman Steve Owen said he considers Kilo's horrific death an "accident".

Funny, no mention of the horrible suffering of the dog as he cooked to death inside this patrol vehicle.

“CCA is heartbroken over the loss of Kilo, as is his handler,” Owen said. “He was a treasured member of our team, and we are all saddened by this tragic accident.”

Owen said Strickland is on paid administrative leave, pending further information from the investigation.

CCA is donating $5,000 in Kilo’s memory to the Hardeman County Humane Society, and is beginning to incorporate additional training for K9 officers, Owen said.

“We are also conducting a company-wide refresher with all of our K9 officers to review protocols for dog care and safety, especially as we enter into the summer months,” Owen said.

(Live5News - May 27, 2016)