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Rikers Island K9 dog dies in ‘tragic’ incident, second DOC dog death in 3 years
By
Jessy Edwards
Published Oct 26, 2023
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Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Jessy Edwards
Published Oct 26, 2023
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A dog in the New York City Department of Correction K9 unit died Tuesday after he was found unresponsive inside a department vehicle on Rikers Island, a department spokesperson said.
It is the second dog death at the facility in just over three years.
The dog, Ryder, was found unresponsive about 2:20 p.m. inside a car at the Canine Compound at the Rikers jail facility, according to a “Death of Staff-Canine” incident report viewed by Gothamist.
Ryder was transported to the Animal Medical Center Hospital at 3:15 p.m. and was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m., according to the incident report.
DOC spokesperson Annais Morales said a necropsy is underway and Ryder's cause of death has not yet been determined. The dog’s handler is not facing disciplinary action at this time, per the department.
“This tragic incident remains under investigation,” Morales said.
Car-cooling system may have failed, department says
The DOC said law enforcement canines across the U.S. are often kept inside department vehicles for extended periods of time.
It said the department has technology inside the vehicles that determines if the interior heat reaches a certain temperature, and if so, the vehicle systems are supposed to automatically lower the windows and activate warning indicators.
The DOC is investigating if the heat-activated safety system worked correctly in Ryder’s case, or if there was a malfunction. K9 handlers are not issued department vehicles but often share them with other staff to get around the 400-acre Rikers Island, the department added.
Morales said no dogs will be left inside unattended department vehicles while Tuesday's incident is reviewed. Ryder was left with water and food in the vehicle, a department spokesman said.
Ryder’s death comes almost three years after another department dog was found fatally ill after eating soap on Oct. 31, 2020. Department of Correction K9 Bingo died after chewing into a gallon of concentrated industrial soap that had been left on the ground instead of put on a shelf, the Daily News reported at the time.
After ingesting the soap, Bingo was reportedly put back in his cage overnight. By the next morning, he was found foaming at the mouth, and had to be euthanized a week later.
In June, DOC Commissioner Louis Molina told Fox 5 the department has more than 40 canines that sniff for seven different drugs – including cocaine and methamphetamine – and electronics like cellphones. The dogs live and work with their handlers, Molina said.
The department’s website says its canine unit uses German Shepherds and Labradors to patrol the perimeters of Rikers Island, monitor detainee outdoor recreation and respond to disturbances. It uses Border Collies to inspect all detainees’ incoming mail.
The most recent canine death follows a disturbing recent report from a federal monitor on worsening conditions at Rikers Island for staff and detainees. A judge has agreed to hear arguments this winter over whether a federal receiver should take control of the city’s jails, including Rikers.
In total, 28 DOC detainees have died since Mayor Eric Adams' inauguration in January 2022, and the city's jail system had its highest detainee death rate in a quarter-century last year.
Another detainee death on Rikers was reported on Oct. 5, marking the ninth such death this year.
Tagged
criminal justice
rikers
k9
public safety
new york
dogs
Jessy Edwards
Jessy Edwards covers incarceration and public safety. Before working at Gothamist/WNYC, she covered daily and breaking news at NBC New York and Brooklyn news at BK Reader. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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