Missouri handler charged in hot car death of of K-9 officer: Reports

A Missouri police officer has been charged with animal abuse after authorities say he left his K-9 officer inside a hot car overnight in June, leading to the dog’s death.

Charges were filed Friday against Savannah Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler in Andrew County, about 65 miles northwest of Kansas City, according to local television stations KTVI and KMBC. 

The charges were filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and include animal abuse charges, the outlets reported. USA TODAY has contacted the Missouri Attorney General's Office for more information.

The K-9 officer, a German Shepherd named Horus, died after completing his overnight shift with Zeigler around 5 a.m. on June 20. Just before 6 p.m. that evening, Zeigler called Savannah Police Chief Dave Vincent and informed him the K-9 officer had died, KTVI reported. 

The outlet said the dog died of heat exposure and according to court documents, a weather reading that day at the Kansas City International Airport showed a high of 88 degrees at 5:53 p.m. 

According to KTVI, a witness saw the deceased K-9 officer near the police vehicle as Zeigler, his handler, was “flipping out.” Zeigler said at the time that he thought he had brought the dog inside. Another witness who helped bury the K-9 officer said they heard Zeigler tell the police chief that the dog’s death was his fault.

According to court documents and KTVI, investigators performed a functionality test on the police vehicle the dog was in. Investigators parked the police vehicle outside in direct sunlight, then turned off the ignition. Eventually, the vehicle’s internal temperature reached 90 degrees, causing the vehicle to honk repeatedly and then roll down the rear windows and activate a fan.

According to KTVI, the test proved that the vehicle had a working AceK9 system inside it. The system would’ve had to have been manually turned off on June 20 to cause his death, according to court documents.

Community members push for justice for Horus

Once word got out about the K-9 officer’s death, community members took to the comments on Facebook to demand that his handler be charged.

“He should be arrested for the K-9s death and the police department shouldn't be allowed to have another dog,” wrote one Facebook user under a 2021 post about Horus and Zeigler. “That poor dog died a miserable death.”

Animal activist Paul Mueller shared a video in July and said community activists helped to ensure K-9 Horus' death wasn't overlooked.

Other community members pointed out a previous incident that led to the death of a Savannah Police Department K-9 officer, whose name was Lyda.

"This is the second K9 killed in Savannah, MO," wrote former state representative candidate Jessica Piper. "Here is the story of Lyda who was choked to death."

The screenshot she included tells the story of Lyda, a former police dog for the department who accidentally hanged herself, according to an article on K9 Memorial Cards.

The Savannah Police Department said in a statement to USA TODAY on Monday that K-9 Lyda died in 2001 after she was put on a leash inside her kennel and climbed over it.

K-9 officer joined the force in 2021

According to a Facebook post from the Savannah Police Department, K-9 Horus joined the department in February 2021. 

“Thanks to your donations and support we are pleased to welcome K-9 Officer Horus to the team,” the department wrote at the time. He was nearly two years old at the time and trained with Zeigler for eight weeks.

Since then, the department has spotlighted the pair on social media, including an October 2022 post where Horus and Zeigler helped with a school search.

When Horus died, the police department shared on Facebook that his resting place was “a work in progress.” He first received a temporary marker and then a donor paid for a permanent marker for the K-9 officer.

“Horus was a great asset to our department and the community,” the police department shared online on July 3. “I trusted this K9 around my grandchildren and they adored him. I am upset and angry about what happened to Horus as everyone else is. Unfortunately I have been unable to discuss the circumstances of the incident while the MSHP conducts its investigation.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.