State Launches Independent Investigation Into Death Of Maine’s 1st Public Safety Comfort Dog Left In State Vehicle

[Sugar Cookie]

The investigation continues into the death of Maine’s first official comfort dog. His death is under review after he was apparently left unattended in a hot car.

Baxter was a three-year-old chocolate lab who joined the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022 as the state’s first official comfort dog.

His job was to help improve the mood of first responders in Maine's three emergency communication centers.

The Maine Department of Public Safety said Baxter was found dead around 2 p.m. on May 28 inside a state vehicle at the Bangor Regional Communications Center.

The vehicle Baxter was in was supposed to be running with the air conditioning on, but officials discovered the car off and Baxter dead, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The Maine Department of Public Safety said in May that they were conducting an inspection of that vehicle to determine what led it to unexpectedly stop running.

On Wednesday, the Maine Department of Public Safety said the information found during their review is now part of an independent investigation led by the Animal Welfare Program of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF).

There's no word yet on whether the person who was operating the car could face any disciplinary action.

Investigation continues into death of Maine's first official comfort dog

Baxter was a three-year-old chocolate lab who joined the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022.

wgme.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Run In Paradise Baxter

 

[Rebooto]

He should not comfort them but bit them in their ass

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Sep 12, 2025

More than three months after the state of Maine's first official comfort dog died in a hot car, charges have been brought against the dog's handler.

Baxter, a 3-year-old chocolate lab who brought comfort and companionship to emergency responders as the state's first official comfort dog, was found dead in a state vehicle on May 28. The vehicle was parked at the Bangor Regional Communications Center.

The Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday that Brodie Hinckley has been charged with a civil violation of animal cruelty.

"I think the evidence would show that this particular handler had some knowledge of how long a dog should be in a vehicle and under what conditions," said Penobscot County District Attorney Christopher Almy. "He had a lot of feelings for the dog, and he was quite remorseful. So, balancing those two things, that's why we came to the conclusion that a civil charge was appropriate."

In Maine, animal cruelty can either be a criminal offence or a civil violation. Punishment for the civil violation includes fines and potentially barring the person from owning an animal.

Almy said that Baxter started his day inside the building with Hinckley, but got moved to the car after making a mess inside.

"The dog itself had caused a little problem inside the building. It had defecated, urinated and whatnot. So, he took the dog out to the car and put it in the car while he was working inside the building," he said.

Almy says that evidence shows that Baxter was left in the car for around 4 hours. The car was initially left on, but the battery ran low, causing the air conditioning to turn off.

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Handler of Maine's first comfort dog, which died in hot car, charged with animal cruelty

Friday's announcement of a civil violation comes more than three months after Baxter was found dead in a state vehicle.

www.wmtw.com

Dogs have to be taken outside to go to the bathroom did this dummy do that?

Hinckley resigned from his position as director of the Maine Bureau of Emergency Communications.

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/brodie-hinckley-maine-official-resigns-after-death-of-state-comfort-dog-baxter/3831825/