By The Associated Press | Posted - Aug. 30, 2016 at 11:00 p.m.

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BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania corrections officer has been charged after a drug-detecting police dog in his care died last month after it was left in a hot vehicle for 2½ hours during a training exercise.

State police said Tuesday that Sgt. Chad Holland has been charged with animal cruelty in the July 7 death of 2-year-old Totti at the state prison at Rockview near Bellefonte in Centre County.

PennLive.com reports dog handlers tried to cool the yellow Labrador with a water hose and ice after they realized he was locked in the car, but the dog later died.

An online petition urging the Department of Corrections to fire Holland was started after the dog's death.

It's unclear if he has an attorney who can comment on the charges.

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