Comanche K-9’s Heat-Related Death Prompts Call for Independent Criminal Investigation; No Replacement K-9
For Immediate Release:
August 13, 2026
Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382
Following the death of Drago, a Comanche K-9 who died after being left confined in an outdoor kennel in sweltering summer temperatures, PETA sent a letter today to Comanche Police Chief David Hornbeck, urging him to request an independent criminal investigation into Drago’s death and to help protect other dogs by ending the use of K-9s altogether. In the letter, PETA encourages the department to prevent future tragedies by replacing K-9s with state-of-the-art policing technology, such as tactical robots, drones, and portable mass spectrometers.
PETA points out that temperatures in the region have repeatedly exceeded 100 degrees this summer. While Drago’s handler has stated that high winds blew a tarp off Drago’s kennel—leaving him exposed to the blazing sun—PETA notes that extreme heat always poses a grave risk to dogs left outside, and that Oklahoma law prohibits depriving an animal of necessary shelter to prevent suffering, a violation that may constitute a felony.
“Drago suffered and died after being confined outside in the blistering sun with no way to escape the heat,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “Law enforcement should be held to the same legal standards as anyone else, and PETA is calling for an independent criminal investigation and asking the Comanche Police Department not to replace Drago with another K-9.”
Drago’s death is part of an ongoing epidemic affecting K-9s: Heatstroke is among the leading causes of death for dogs used by police departments; many sustain fatal injuries in the field, and some even suffer abuse from their own handlers. That’s why PETA is calling on law enforcement agencies nationwide to end these preventable tragedies by retiring K-9 programs in favor of advanced technology.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Hornbeck follows.
August 13, 2026
David Hornbeck, Chief
Comanche Police Department
Via e-mail
Dear Chief Hornbeck:
I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) regarding the tragic death of K-9 Drago in an outdoor kennel. Please accept our condolences.
Respectfully, we urge you to engage an external agency such as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation into Drago’s death. Allowing a dog to suffer and die from heatstroke in an outdoor kennel may constitute a felony offense in violation of 21 OK Stat § 1685, which prohibits depriving an animal of necessary shelter to prevent suffering. Although the tarp reportedly blew off the kennel where Drago was confined, temperatures in the region have repeatedly exceeded 100°F over the summer—reaching as high as 108°F—leaving any dog left confined in an outdoor kennel in those conditions at extreme risk of heatstroke, tarp or no tarp.
We strongly recommend ending the Comanche Police Department K-9 program. Instead of replacing Drago with another dog, you might consider investing in state-of-the-art technology such as tactical robots, drones, or portable mass spectrometers to enhance community safety without risking anyone’s life. Your department may be able to secure grant funding for new technology through the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. You might also find private or equipment-specific grant funding opportunities through PoliceGrantsHelp.com.
Thank you for your consideration and for all that you do to keep your community safe.
Most respectfully,
Allison Fandl
Manager of Special Projects
Cruelty Investigations Department | PETA
