Died – 7/23/15
Police dog dies from complications due to heat, vet says
Houston Community College’s first ever police dog has died. Tyler, a 2 1/2-year-old German shepherd, died July 23, according to HCC Police Chief Greg Cunningham. “The vet said it was complications due to heat,” Cunningham said. The internal investigation into the dog’s death is still ongoing, according to Cunningham, but it does not appear that Tyler’s handler did anything wrong. “I have seen nothing the officer did to cause this result,” Cunningham said. The dog was left overnight in 9-foot long outdoor kennel area of the officer’s home. When the officer checked on the dog the next morning, he noticed the dog was not doing well, the chief said. Hours later, the dog died at the veterinarian’s. Cunningham said Friday he was not sure if the department would get another dog. Tyler had placed second in a police dog competition last year. He was trained in both bomb detection and everyday patrol work. He worked at each HCC’s campuses as needed.