Baxter was more than a comfort dog. He was a lifeline for emergency dispatchers across Maine. Trained to support those who support us, this gentle chocolate lab brought peace and healing to people working some of the most stressful jobs imaginable.

Now he’s gone. He was left to die inside a state vehicle that had supposedly been left running with the air conditioning on. It wasn’t. And Baxter paid the price.

We can’t let this be swept under the rug.

We are calling on the State of Maine and the Department of Public Safety to launch a full, transparent investigation into Baxter’s death. We want to know what went wrong, who was responsible, and what’s being done to make sure it never happens again. Baxter deserved better, and so do the service animals still working across the state.

This was not just an accident. It was a preventable tragedy. Help us demand accountability and real change to protect animals like Baxter in the future.