By Suzie Ziegler
HUMPHREYS COUNTY, Tenn. — A Tennessee K-9 left inside a patrol car died Wednesday when the car caught fire.
According to WVLT, a Humphreys County deputy left the dog in his running cruiser during a visit to the courthouse. At some point while the deputy was inside, the vehicle had an electrical short which led to a fire in the dashboard area, filling the cabin with smoke, according to the report.
After leaving the courthouse, the deputy rushed to his car to rescue K-9 Ciro, a 5-year-old German shepherd. The fire department and more police officers also helped rescue the dog. The fire had destroyed the electric locks, so responders had to break windows to get the dog out.
“I was going to do everything I could to get him out of that car,” Deputy Shawn Gary told WKRN. “I couldn’t get to him and it’s like one of your children. I burnt myself and was going to burn myself to get to that dog. That was the hardest thing for me was not being able to get in that car.”
Gary said he had left Ciro in the car as a precautionary measure.
“However social Ciro was, he was a bite dog. He was a full patrol dog and he was trained to protect me. I can’t take Ciro into those places without a need,” Gary said.
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The fire department ultimately used the jaws of life to get to Ciro, according to WKRN.
Ciro was taken to an animal hospital, but he had suffered severe smoke inhalation and died. Two deputies were also treated for second-degree burns and smoke inhalation.
The sheriff’s office said the vehicle had an electronic alarm system to alert the deputy, but the alarm failed to function, according to the report.