A Houston Police Department K-9 officer died from heat exhaustion Monday after the engine in his partner's patrol car unexpectedly shut down, officials say.
The dog was left in a running car on Monday, a "necessary and common practice" among police officers, according to Houston Police. Safety measures in place are supposed to notify the dog handler in the event of a car engine turning off. That system failed, leading to the tragic incident, police say.
Aron was a 4-year-old dog that had been with the department for a year and a half, according to NBC News.
"Please keep Aron's handler and the entire K-9 team in your prayers as they mourn the loss of Aron," authorities said.
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Houston Police are investigating to determine what caused things to go wrong. NBC News reported the department is also investigating all vehicles that transport K-9s to ensure they are working.
