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A Porterville police dog died in June when a patrol car’s air conditioning stopped working, the police department announced Thursday.

Porterville Police K-9 "Idol" died June 20 in the back of a patrol car when the engine shut down and stopped the air conditioning from keeping the interior cool. (Credit: Porterville Police Department via Los Angeles Times)
Porterville Police K-9 “Idol” died June 20 in the back of a patrol car when the engine shut down and stopped the air conditioning from keeping the interior cool.
(Credit: Porterville Police Department via Los Angeles Times)

The dog’s handler placed “Idol” in the patrol car with the air conditioning on after a training session on June 20. The temperature outside was 90 degrees, according to a department statement.

“It is a common practice for officers to … keep their partners in their K-9 vehicles  for protection against high or low temperatures,” the statement said.

When the handler returned an hour and a half later, he noticed the car was no longer running and “Idol” was dead in the back, police said.

Click here to read the full story on LATimes.com.