K9 Bart Dies of Heat Stroke After About 36 Hours Without Water; Handler Resigns

K9 Bart, a German shepherd with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, died September 19 of heat stroke due to severe dehydration. Sheriff Julian Wiser gave the cause in a video statement that WBBJ and WREG reported on September 25.

On September 19, the K9 supervisor told Wiser that Bart’s handler had found the dog dead in an outdoor kennel, according to WREG. A preliminary investigation found the handler hadn’t been home for about 36 hours before the discovery, and Bart had no access to water during that time. The heat index reached about 101°F that day, the sheriff said.

Necropsy points to heat stroke

Wiser said he contacted a local veterinarian to order an autopsy, and the next morning the K9 supervisor took Bart to a veterinary university program in Mississippi. A veterinarian later confirmed the cause, the sheriff said, and WREG reported that the finding came from a necropsy. Wiser called the death “unfortunate and preventable.”

Handler resigned; no charges announced

Wiser ordered an internal affairs investigation and a criminal investigation. The handler, a deputy, was placed on administrative leave and later resigned from the sheriff’s office. Search warrants have been issued in the case, WREG reported.

The sheriff’s office hasn’t released the former deputy’s name. WBBJ reported that the name is being withheld because no criminal charges have been filed. Wiser said he contacted the district attorney about the incident because of the preliminary findings, and WREG reported that the findings are going to the district attorney general’s office. As of September 28, no charge had been announced.

Bart’s training and age

As a patrol dog, Bart was trained in criminal apprehension, tracking, article searches and narcotics detection. Reports differ slightly on age. WBBJ’s first story said Bart was just over 2 years old, while WREG and a later WBBJ story said 2½.

Water and shade in hot weather

The American Veterinary Medical Association advises that pets outdoors have unlimited access to fresh water and shade. Its list of heat stress signs that call for emergency veterinary care includes excessive panting and drooling, restlessness, unsteadiness, abnormal gum and tongue color and collapse.

How we reported this: Case details come from Sheriff Julian Wiser’s video statement as reported by two newsrooms, WBBJ and WREG. Buddylio didn’t review the necropsy report, the search warrants or any charging decision. The AVMA guidance is general safety information and isn’t part of the investigation.