Police officer charged in death of his K-9 partner who was allegedly left in hot car after shift

SAVANNAH, Missouri (KCTV/Gray News) – A Missouri police department held a farewell service in honor of a police dog after his handler was charged in his death.

K-9 Horus, who worked for the Savannah Police Department, died in June after his handler, Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler, left him in a patrol car after a night shift, according to investigators.

The Missouri Attorney General's Office filed charges against Zeigler for animal cruelty on Friday, KCTV reports.

On Saturday morning, community members gathered to say goodbye to Horus at his grave, which is marked with a donated headstone. After Horus' death, police were informed that the dog could not be buried in the city cemetery due to existing laws.

Horus died on June 20 from injuries sustained after being left in Zeigler's hot police car, according to police.

According to a statement on the probable cause of the accident, the car is equipped with a safety feature that is activated when the temperature in the cabin reaches 90 degrees. At this moment, the car is supposed to honk and roll down the windows.

Investigators tested the car after Horus died. The probable cause statement shows the safety feature was working as intended at the time. Investigators said they believe someone turned off the car's safety feature.

The probable cause statement also states that a witness reported seeing Horus' body on the ground next to Zeigler's police car. They reported hearing the dog handler scream that he thought he had brought the sniffer dog into the house at the end of his shift.

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