Report: 2 police dogs found dead in officer's SUV
TAMPA, Fla. -- Law enforcement agencies are investigating after two police dogs were found dead in an unmarked SUV parked outside a Tampa police officer's home, the Associated Press reports.
According to the AP, K-9 Officer Nelson Enriquez arrived home early Wednesday morning after completing a graveyard shift. He allegedly left the dogs in his SUV, and later found the dogs dead around 7 p.m. the same day.
Enriquez is an officer with the Hialeah Police Department. The investigation into the dogs' deaths are being carried out by a different police department.
Don Ryce, from the Jimmy Ryce Center who donated the dogs, released the following statement to the AP:
"I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of two remarkable police dogs from the Hialeah Police Department, "Jimmy" and "Hector".
"Jimmy" is a 7 yr-old Bloodhound and "Hector" is a 4-yr old Belgium Malinois.
The Jimmy Ryce Center donated "Jimmy" the bloodhound to the Hialeah Police Department seven years ago. Our mission is stronger than ever and with the public's help we hope to be able to raise funds to replace these dogs."