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The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a popular Savannah Police Department sniffer dog after he was left in a sweltering car.

Savannah Police Chief David Vincent had previously confirmed that Horus died on June 20 from complications resulting from being in a car after a night shift.

“The Andrew County Prosecutor’s Office is deeply saddened by the death of K-9 Horus. We are grateful for his service to our community,” said Andrew County Prosecutor Monica Morrey. Newsweek in a statement on Wednesday.

“I have requested a special investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I will await the results of that investigation before deciding on the necessary action.”

The death of the purebred German Shepherd is currently being treated as an accident and the investigation is ongoing. Newsweek contacted Savannah Police and received no response.

According to The Weather Channel, temperatures in Savannah, about an hour north of Kansas City, reached 31 degrees. On June 20 and 21, temperatures were 32 degrees.

A spokesman for the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force said Newsweek In a statement on Thursday, it said: “While we cannot comment on this specific case, it does show how dangerous extreme temperatures can be for animals. A hot car can be fatal to a dog within minutes.”

“The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force responds to dozens of calls each summer about animals suffering from heat and is committed to educating the public about the effects of extreme temperatures on our four-legged friends,” they continued. “We mourn the loss of K-9 Officer Horus and our thoughts are with all who loved him.”

Local news station KCTV reported that Savannah police are down to three officers and are considering Horus as the fourth. Several new officers will start next week, the station added.

The department asked the Savannah community in August 2020 for donations to fund its K-9 program, which reportedly cost about $15,000.

“The sniffer dog will be trained to detect drugs, secure evidence, locate wanted or missing persons, and protect his handler,” police wrote in a Facebook post at the time. “With the help of local businesses and community members, we can continue to make Savannah one of the safest cities in Missouri.”

Horus joined the force in February 2021 at the age of almost two. He trained with Sergeant Daniel Zeigler for eight weeks and was scheduled to “hit the streets” with Zeigler in May, according to another Facebook post.

In October of this year, Horus was nominated for the 2021 Aftermath K-9 Grant Contest, competing with other police dogs to win up to $25,000 for their program. While Horus didn’t make the top four, he received high praise from Zeigler.

“He’s a good dog. He works hard, he’s young and he loves what he does,” Zeigler told KQ2 at the time.

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