Bangor, Maine – Maine’s first comfort dog, a three-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, died after being left in a hot car. According to sources, the young dog, Baxter, was found inside a state vehicle parked at the Bangor Regional Communications Center last Wednesday.
Baxter had worked with the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications since 2022; his job was to provide comfort to employees at the state’s three regional dispatch centers.
In a statement, Maine’s Department of Public Safety said:
“His calming and cheerful presence will be deeply missed by all those who interacted with him. The department extends its deepest condolences to Baxter’s handler and his family, as well as the entire emergency telecommunication team.”
The temperature was in the mid-80s on the day that Baxter died. An investigation is underway to determine how and why the vehicle’s air-conditioning system stopped working.
Rest easy Baxter.
Thanks for reading! We appreciate you.
