The Elmira Police Department says it is conducting an administrative review after a dog died while in the custody of the city’s Animal Control division.
According to a statement released Tuesday by Police Chief Kristen Thorne, the dog was taken into custody on June 3 after it was found running at large. Officials said the animal did not have a current rabies vaccination on record.
The dog was transported to a veterinary provider for evaluation and vaccination before being returned to the Animal Control facility. Police said the animal was later found deceased on June 4.
Authorities have sent the dog for a necropsy to determine the cause of death. The department said it will not speculate on what led to the animal’s death until those results are received.
Police also announced that a formal administrative review is underway. The review will examine the timeline of events, handling procedures, and transportation protocols related to the incident.
“We take the death of an animal in our care seriously,” the department said in its statement.
Officials added that no personnel-related information will be released while the review remains active.
The Elmira Police Department said it will provide additional information once the necropsy results and findings of the review become available.
