Sheriff’s officer faces animal cruelty charges after two police K-9s die in hot vehicle
Investigators say the dogs were left unattended in a vehicle for 7 hours.
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A Salem County sheriff’s officer is facing animal cruelty charges after allegedly leaving two police K-9s in a hot vehicle for seven hours.
Cody Henderson was charged in connection with the deaths of Salem County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Rip and K-9 Boomer. Investigators said the dogs were left in a sheriff’s office K-9 vehicle “without appropriate ventilation or other care” between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on May 29.
The dogs were in Henderson’s care. He returned to his vehicle just after 3:30 p.m. and found the dogs deceased. Police said he transported them to an animal hospital in Delaware.
According to the official complaint, the vehicle was not running while the dogs were unattended. Police also said the windows were closed and no emergency alert system was activated. Investigators said those factors contributed to the deaths of Rip and Boomer.
In a statement, the Salem County Sheriff’s Office described Rip, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, and Boomer, a 6-year-old springer spaniel, as exceptional canines that dedicated their lives to serving and protecting Salem County residents.
“Rip and Boomer exemplified the highest standards of service, loyalty and dedication. Their contributions to public safety and their commitment to duty will not be forgotten,” the sheriff’s office said. “The loss of these loyal partners has had a profound impact on our agency, our law enforcement community and the citizens they faithfully served. We continue to honor the memory and service of Rip and Boomer and extend our thoughts to all those affected by this tragic loss.”
