Police officer charged after dog dies in Nebraska heat

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 18:15 · Archive

A police service dog handler in Nebraska City has been charged with felony animal cruelty after his Alaskan malamute died from heat exhaustion.

Jacob Stenka, a 32-year-old police service dog handler for Nebraska City Police Department, was arrested following the death of his Alaskan malamute named Austyn. The dog was found dead on July 26 near Nebraska City High School. Temperatures reached 99 degrees that day, with a heat advisory issued for Otoe County.

Court documents show that Austyn was left in a separate kennel in Stenka's yard in direct sunlight, alongside another Nebraska City police service dog named Bebe. Stenka left for Nemaha at 8:15 a.m. and expected to be gone for two to three hours. Officers who responded noted minimal water and no shade at the dog's location.

A veterinarian determined that Austyn's likely cause of death was heat exhaustion. An investigator interviewed several people and determined that the death could have been prevented. Stenka was charged with felony animal cruelty resulting in death. He paid 10 per cent of a $10,000 bond to be released from jail on 21 September.

How it is being reported

• Unsealed affidavit details death of dog in Nebraska City animal cruelty caseA recently unsealed affidavit is shedding light on a Nebraska City animal abuse case where a dog died while in the care of a police officer.1011Now · 28 Oct, 17:59
• Unsealed affidavit details death of dog in Nebraska City animal cruelty caseA recently unsealed affidavit is shedding light on a Nebraska City animal abuse case where a dog died while in the care of a police officer.WOWT · 28 Oct, 17:59

In this story: Jacob Stenka · Nebraska City Police Department · Nebraska City · Otoe County

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