The latest casualty from the devastating heatwave ravaging the United States is a police dog from Florida.
While hunting for a suspect, a popular police K9 called Archer died in Miami after temperatures reached 108 degrees during the July 4 weekend.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, a man jumped from a car with Archer in pursuit, but the canine ultimately collapsed as he was on the run.
He passed away the next day at an animal hospital in Gainesville, surrounded by members of the canine unit, his handler, and medical staff, after suffering a “heat episode,” according to the agency.
Sheriff David Harper said on Facebook on July 5 that K9 Archer honorably fulfilled his duty by fearlessly safeguarding her community, its residents, and his cops.
The post added that K9 Archer will always have a special place in their hearts. They said the unit would hold the line in her honor so he may rest in peace.
The police arrested the man Archer was following. The allegations against him and his name are still under wraps.
In response to the news of Archer’s death, Sheriff David Harper defended the canine methods used by his unit, saying that the “felon” was making his way toward a house and was only a couple hundred yards away from his intended victim when Archer passed away from the heat.
The nation is bracing for record-breaking heat.
Nearly 40% of the population, or 36 million people, are under an extreme heat advisory, the most severe warning issued by the National Weather Service.
So far, the heat wave has been particularly harsh on the West Coast. On Friday, Palm Springs, California, set a new record high of 124 degrees.
Also, Death Valley recorded 127 degrees, and Las Vegas hit 120 degrees, both of which were records for the city.
The upper 80s were reached even in San Francisco, a city typically chilled by the ocean.
Scientists are optimistic that the earth will soon see a break in the record-breaking hot streak, but they are pessimistic about the climatic instability that has accompanied it.
