LIVINGSTON - A safety device designed to keep officers from leaving their K-9 partners in hot vehicles was not activated last month when a dog died in the care of a Livingston Parish sheriff's deputy.

The sheriff's office first announced the death of the K-9—named Ivar—last week, more than a month after he died from heat exhaustion after being left in a deputy's vehicle on Aug. 20. 

On Friday, the department confirmed that the vehicle that Ivar had been left in was equipped with a device designed to prevent such an accident, but that safety measure was not turned on at the time. 

The department has said Ivar's handler was disciplined for the animal's death but has not detailed what that punishment was.