K9 MONUMENTS
K9 Nyx Statue
Unveiled – 2/21/25
Location – Rockford Police Department District 3 Building, Illinois
K-9 Nyx’s legacy was set in bronze. K-9 Nyx was tragically shot and killed January 28, 2025 while tracking down a suspect. Nyx, along with her handler Officer Vargas, had been tracking the suspect involved in a domestic incident. The duo successfully located the suspect, but after climbing a fence, the suspect turned and fired three gunshots at Nyx, fatally wounding her. Nyx had served with the Rockford Police Department for nearly six years.
K9 Hero Statue
Unveiled – 2/3/25
Location – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – Colorado
K9 Hudson Monument
Unveiled – 9/13/24
Location – Kane County Sheriff’s Office – Illinois
A monument honoring a fallen four year old police dog, K9 Hudson, serves as a daily reminder of his sacrifice for everyone working at the Kane County Sheriff’s Office who died on 5/24/23.The ceremonial unveiling of the monument to Hudson was on 9/13/24, Hudson was a Dutch shepherd that was killed in the line of duty while apprehending an armed carjacking suspect who had led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle. The chase ended at Fabyan Parkway and Randall Road on the Geneva-Batavia border, where the suspect engaged in a shootout with police and was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire. His handler was Detective Luke Weston. The sheriff’s office paid for the monument with asset forfeiture funds from the K-9 nonprofit fundraising account. Following the event, the Elgin Kennel Club made a surprise donation of $2,000 to the program.
K9 Chase Monument
Location – Barboursville Park, West Virginia Police Canine Associations Law Enforcement Canine Memorial and Training Obstacle Course
A monument was erected to remember the legacy of a West Virginia K-9 who disappeared. A wooden statue of Chapmanville Police K-9 Officer Chase now stands at Barboursville Park in the West Virginia Police Canine Associations Law Enforcement Canine Memorial and Training Obstacle Course. K-9 Chase, a Belgian Malinois born in 2019, was a Chapmanville PD K-9. His disappearance from his then-handler’s South Charleston home in April 2023 sparked a big desire to make a change when it comes to consequences for crimes against police dogs. Chase has still not been found. Chase had only been with the Chapmanville PD about a month before his disappearance. At that time, the Chapmanville PD said Chase jumped the fence at his home, and when his handler, Officer Marcus Dudley, went to check on him, only his collar and the chain he was attached to were left. However, as the South Charleston Police Department continued their investigation, they said they’d determined Chase did not escape from Dudley’s yard nor was he stolen from the yard. In an April 20, 2023 update into their investigation, officers with the SCPD also said statements from Dudley regarding Chase’s disappearance were “inconsistent.” Later that day, the Chapmanville PD confirmed Dudley had been on administrative leave since Chase went missing.As of April 24, 2023, the Chapmanville PD said Dudley was “no longer employed” by the department. According to police reports, at least two people came forward in an attempt to report animal neglect on behalf of Chase’s former handler Marcus Dudley. The recently released reports state that Dudley’s search history showed he looked up “dog laws WV code” during this time. He was sentenced in November to six months in prison but only had to serve 17 days because of time served.Prior to working for the Chapmanville PD, Chase had served as a K-9 for the Shenandoah County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office.
Chicago K9 Memorial
Dedicated – 12/17/23
Location –Inside the city’s Chicago Lawn (8th) District station
A new statue was unveiled on 12/17/23, honoring some of Chicago’s fallen heroes. Families of Chicago Police Sgt. Ed Dougherty, Officer Ella French, and Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso unveiled a dog statue inside the city’s Chicago Lawn (8th) District station. The colorful statue of a police K-9 sits atop the front desk of the police station, and is adorned with images of the three officers. French was assigned to the Chicago Lawn District when she was shot and killed in the line of duty in August 2021. Dougherty, who spent the majority of his 24 years on the force at the Chicago Lawn District, died last year by suicide. Vasquez Lasso also was assigned to the Chicago Lawn District when he was shot and killed in the line of duty in March 2023.The statue in their honor bears a message honoring the city’s men and women in blue:”May this Canine remind all of the dedication and sacrifice made each day, by the 8th District Police Officers, who patrol, risk, and serve the citizens of Chicago Lawn, and the City of Chicago.”
K9 Honey Memorial
Unveiled – 12/9/23
Location – UF Veterinary College Animal Hospital- Gainsville, Florida
Sculptor – Lena Toritch
Barbara Snow, Executive Director of the U.S. War Dogs Association Chapter 2 was the driving force for many years to have this memorial for K9 Honey. K9 Honey was an exceptional medical service dog. She had several jobs. Taking care of former Vietnam veteran MSGT Michael Gaither was her prime responsibility. She was also an ambassador for the U.S. War Dogs Association attending their events and a teacher in the Kids for K9’S program in local schools. Honey promoted the value of Military War Dogs to serve in combat and on our bases on land, sea, and air. Army records say there would be at least 10,000 more names on the wall if it were it not for them. She promoted our law enforcement K9’S who serve with their partners keeping us safe and secure in our homes and community and most important bringing their handler home at the end of their shift. She made Michaels life more productive by calling 911 when he fell from his wheel chair. She would go to the phone and bark twice meaning “come now”. She also woke him when he lost his COPD mask by placing one paw on his leg and the other paw on bringing the mask back in it’s place.Honey earned four bronze medals from the American Kennel Club for her service to Michael and our prestigious War Dog Medal for her service to our veterans. General Petraeus quote “The capability the military dogs bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine, by all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory”. Law enforcement agencies and their K9 teams gave her a Last Ride Honor and a Last Salute Honor. D.O.B. 1/22/10 – E.O.W. 3/2/18.
Marion County K9 Service Memorial
Dedicated – 12/9/23
Location – Marion City Hall
The memorial was built to honor all of the K9 deputies and officers who have served the residents of Marion County since K9 units were first established in the community in 1973.
Dover K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 11/4/23
Location – Public square next to the police station – Dover Ohio
Sculptor – Lena Toritch
The city’s K-9 monument is designed to serve as a last tribute to the dogs and their handlers that have served in the Dover Police Department to help maintain public safety.The project was spearheaded by Councilwoman Sandy Moss, following the death of Dover’s last K-9, Rex, in 2022 The monument has a sandstone base with little plaques on it in the shape of paw prints where the names of deceased police dogs are inscribed. there is a space to honor future K9 officers that Dover might have. The monument is topped by a bronze stature of a Belgian Malinois. Rex was a Belgian Malinois. obtained by the city in 2014, was a great asset to the Dover Police Department, the Dover community and surrounding law enforcement partners. Rex’s name appears on the monument along with that of King, a German Shepherd that served as Dover’s first police dog from 1974 to 1976. The project was paid for with private donations, including a $15,000 donation from a relative of the wife of Officer William Nedrow, who was Rex’s handler. The statue is an eternal symbol, not only of what lies before but what successes lie ahead.
St. Lucy K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 10/27/23
Location – St. Lucy County Sheriff’s Office – 4700 West Midway Road
Eighteen-year-old Jayce Masters, along with Ashton Teague and Derek Boyer, both 16, of troop 422 recognized police dogs for the role they play for their service and protecting people and was part of their Eagle Scout project. The black granite pedestals and platform have the inscription with the names of deceased, retired or current St. Lucy County Sheriff’s Office canines. They asked for donations for the statue to fundraise over $40,000 to mount it on top of the pedestal.
Braintree K9 Memorial Monument
Unveiled – 10/19/23
Location – 282 Union Street Station – Braintree, Massachusetts
The Braintree Police Department unveiled a bronze statue in honor of Kitt, on 10/19/23, a beloved K9 veteran who was killed while protecting officers during a shootout in the woods in 2021. On June 4, 2021, officers were called to a domestic dispute at an apartment complex where Kitt entered the woods with the officers in search of the suspect. While attempting to apprehend the armed suspect, Kitt and three officers encountered heavy gunfire from the suspect. Kitt, a 12-year veteran of the force, was struck and killed. K9 Kitt diverted the suspect’s attention away from his handler, William “Bill” Cushing, and two other officers. The suspect was shot by police and pronounced dead. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office later announced that the officers were justified in the use of deadly force during the shootout. Cushing later established the K9 Kitt Foundation, which now provides relief for violently injured K9 teams across the country.
Yates County K9 Monument
Unveiled – 10/18/23
Location – Yates County Public Safety Building, 227 Main Street, Penn Yan, New York
The Yates County K9 memorial is located at the Yates County Public Safety Building in Penn Yan and pays tribute to the K9 officers who have served in the Yates County Sheriff’s Office. The granite memorial came from a quarry in Barre, Vermont, and was donated by Jack Nielsen of Nielsen Granite in Penn Yan. Nielsen Granite professional artist Melissa McMinn etched an image of K9 Kinni along with the Yates County Sheriff’s Office emblem on the front of the memorial, while the names of the 15 deceased canines that served the sheriff’s office since 1983 are etched on the back. The names include Mike, Eudine, Bear, Clyde, Orry, Abe, Jim, Grecco, Eros, Hasko, Blacky, Wasko, Siro, Argo, and Kinni. The Penn Yan Lions Club was a major sponsor of the project and noted its emblem was also placed on the back of the memorial.
Guardians Of Freedom K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 10/12/23
Location – Entrance to New York State Thruway, Herkimer, New York
Sculptor – Lena Toritch
The statue depicts Armed Forces Military Handler Sergeant Adam Cann and his dog, Bruno. While the two were on deployment in Afghanistan, Bruno reacted to the proximity of an explosive device. At that point, a suicide bomber detonated his device, killing Adam and killing and injuring dozens of civilians. Adam used his body as a shield to protect two fellow Marines and his military working dog, Bruno. All marines survived except Sgt. Cann. Cann who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Sgt. Cann received the Bronze Star for Valor and was the first military K-9 handler to die in combat since the Vietnam War. Bruno remained on active duty after recovering from the attack and passed away in 2011.The entire project has taken more than eight years to reach this point.
K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 10/11/23
Location –Gold Star Families Memorial and Park, 1410 Special Olympics Drive, Chicago Illinois
The newest addition honors K9’S that have died in the name of public service and is a tribute to service K9’S who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The addition of the K9 Memorial provides officers with a place and opportunity to also honor their animal partners and the work that they do in service to this city. Three artists are responsible for the sculptures and funding from private and corporate donors through the sale of honor bricks at $250.00 that are the foundation of the plaza.
Pittsfield Police K9 Monument
Unveiled – 9/26/23
Location – In front of Pittsfield Police Station 39Allen Street, Pittsfield MA 01201
Bronze Shepherd statue honoring police K9’S dating back to 1976.
Michigan State Police K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 8/3/23
Location –Adjacent to the Michigan State Police Training Academy Building, Lansing Michigan
The monument honors Michigan State Police K9’S who died in the line of duty The Michigan State Police K9 Memorial was completely Founded by donations.
K9 Legacy Satue
Unveiled – 7/6/23
Sculpter – Kristen Douglas-Seitz
Location -St. Francis Civic Center, 3400 E. Howard Ave, St Francis, Wisconsin
Life-size bronze German Shepherd of K9 Bane, the first K9 for the City of St. Francis. The Statue was dedicated to honor K9 Bane for his seven years protecting the community with his handler Detective Holly McManus. The Statue sits on a solid granite base and will honor future K9’S of the community for their selfless service. The statue was completely funded by donations and gifted to the community by the K9 Bane Hero Fund.
Charlestown K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 5/26/23
Location – Charlestown, Illinois
The city of Charlestown unveiled the statue on 5/26/23 to honor the K9 unit at the city’s police department. The statue is carved from a tree by artist Bill Shippen. The city dedicated the statue for Charlestown fallen K9s, retired and present K9s. Shippen donated the statue to the city.
Los Angeles Police Department K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 5/25/23
Location – Los Angeles Police Department – 100 West First Street, Los Angeles California 90012
The bronze memorial honors Los Angeles Police Department K9’S that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
K9 Frankie K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 5/21/23
Location – Fitchburg, Massachusetts
The K9 Frankie K9 Memorial is memorialized for a Massachusetts State Police K9 who was killed in the line of duty. K9 Frankie was shot by a fugitive suspect in Fitchburg on July 26, 2022. Frankie was rushed to Wachusett Animal Hospital in Westminster, where he sadly died of his injuries. Frankie was the first MSP K9 to be killed in the line of duty. The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois was also the first police K9 in the state to receive emergency care under Nero’s Law which is named for a Yarmouth Police Department K9 wounded in 2018. The Fitchburg Police Relief Association raised tens of thousands of dollars to create a memorial statue for K9 Frankie, which was unveiled on 5/21/23 in the city’s Police Memorial Park in Fitchburg.The K9 served nine years with the Massachusetts State Police and earned the Medal of Valor in 2017 with his handler, MSP Sgt. David Stucenski. On July 26, 2022, state police said they received information that a fugitive suspect, identified as 38-year-old Matthew Mack, was inside a multi-family home at 40 Oliver St. in Fitchburg. Mack was wanted on firearms offenses and accessories after the fact stemming from a shooting incident in Fitchburg that happened five days earlier. Mack was observed at the rear exit of the residence and a decision was made to apprehend him. During the attempt to apprehend him, Mack fired multiple shots toward state police and Frankie was struck by the gunfire. State police said Mack was later found dead from what authorities said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot.
Mounty Holly K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 12/11/22
Location – Mount Holly Police Department Memorial Plaza, North Carolina
Mount Holly unveiled a life-sized bronze statues Sunday to remember fallen police Officer Tyler Herndon on the two-year anniversary of his death in the line of duty. The dedication event was held at Mount Holly Police Department Memorial Plaza. The statue shows an officer kneeling beside a K-9. Herndon began working at the Mount Holly Police Department in January of 2019. He had been there less than two years when he was killed. In July, the man who fatally shot Herndon pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence in prison.
Scottich Police Dog Memorial
Unveiled – 9/30/22
Location – Glasgo Park, UK
Sculptor – John Doubleday
The sculpture of a Belgian Malinois police dog is dedicated to all police dogs, past and present and is the first K9 memorial in Scotland dedicated to the hard working Police Dogs who serve the communities of Scotland 24/7 365 days a year.
France K9 Memorial
Location – In front of town hall -Suippes, France
Sculptor – Milthon
The memorial that pays tribute to all heroic civilian and military dogs. The memorial is a sculpture by French-Colombian artist Milthon, depicting a World War I French soldier and his dog huddled close together. The monument is located in an area where major battles took place during the First World War.Suippes also houses the largest military kennel in Europe, where members of the French Army’s 132nd Canine Infantry Regiment train dogs for military service. The regiment currently consists of 650 army personnel and 550 dogs. Animals from the army regiment, wearing their military medals, attended a ceremony dedicating the memorial. Animals from the army regiment, wearing their military medals, The regiment in Suippes is preparing dogs for combat zones where they will be tasked with sniffing out and chasing a potential enemy. Some are also trained to detect explosives and drugs. The regiment’s recruits are involved in French operations abroad, including in Africa’s Sahel region, West Africa and the Middle East. They are also sent on domestic missions and to work in French territories abroad, such as combating gold smuggling in French Guiana.– We take advantage of their sense of smell, their sight, their physical abilities. They have many Belgian, German Shepherds, dogs that can run, that are resistant to heat and cold. The dogs selected for training are sometimes recruited when they are puppies, but most are 18 months old. Many come from France, others from the Netherlands, Germany and countries in Eastern Europe.They go through a series of tests to see if they are excited to bite, willing to play and not easily startled in a stressful environment. The most important quality required is bravery, according to the regiment’s soldiers. When they can no longer carry out their missions, the dogs are retired. France established its first department to train dogs for active service during the First World War. They searched for wounded soldiers, alerted sentries and carried messages, food and ammunition at the front lines during the 1914–18 war.
K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 6/29/22
Location – Temple Terrace City Hall, 11250 N. 56th St., Florida
Regional Law Enforcement K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 6/29/22
Temple Terrace Police Department, Florida
The memorial’s creation came about through a partnership with the Nam Knights Westside Motorcycle Club.The motorcycle club raised approximately $30,000 over the course of several years to purchase the materials for the memorial, which includes a bronze statue of a police dog surrounded by bricks engraved with the names of law enforcement K-9s who have reached their end of watch. The memorial honors all law enforcement K-9s, including those who were killed in the line of duty and those who were retired and have since passed. The bronze dog standing atop the memorial wears a collar bearing the name “Aramis,” a Temple Terrace Police Department K-9. On the bricks surrounding the pedestal and statue, gold stars designate the dogs that died in the line of duty.
East Haven K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 6/21/22
Location – East Haven Police Department – 471 N. High Street, CT
East Haven Police K9’S who’ve past was donated to the East Haven Police Department and to the town by the Memorial Funeral Home, co- owners Joseph Deko and James Integlia. The monument was created by Nolan’s Hamden Monument Co., at the cost $2,000.
Green Bay K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 5/16/22
Location – Green Bay Police Department
Green Bay Police K9 Memorial was unveiled on 5/16/22 in front of the Green Bay Police Department. K9 Neo’s ashes are actually welded inside of the statue. The Bark N’ Blue foundation raised over $31,000 for the statue.
Tuscaloosa K9 Memorial
Unveiled – 12/6/21
Location – Samantha, Alabama Training Facility
The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office unveiled the memorial on 12/6/21 at its training facility in Samantha, Alabama to honor it’s K9 Units. The memorial features three detailed wood carvings of several dog breeds – German Shepherd, bloodhound and Labrador retriever. These three breeds are used to assist in law enforcement.
Service and Sacrifice K9 Memorial
Dedication – 11/11/21
Location – Navy Memorial Visitors’ Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
Sculptor – Susan Bahary
A larger-than-life bronze sculpture was unveiled at the U.S. Navy Memorial on 11/11/21 on Veteran’s Day. The sculpture is called “Service and Sacrifice,” and honors all the men and women of the sea services, past present and future, and all military working dog teams. It is the first monument honoring working military dogs in the nation’s capital. The monument pays tribute to our country’s heroes and features John Douangdara, the brave lead dog handler for the Navy Seal Team Six and his war dog Bart who were sadly lost in August 2011 along with 29 U.S. Solders, 17 whom were Navy Seals when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. The sculpture was modeled on a photograph taken in Afghanistan. John’s right hand is holding his rifle to his heart representing his sense of duty and his left hand is touching his dog, demonstrating their love and connection. John Douangdara of South Sioux City, Nebraska, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was 26 years old. Service and Sacrifice was commissioned by the U.S. War Dogs Association National Headquarters and will become a permanent part of the Navy Memorial Visitor’s Center. K9 Bart was a Belgian Malinois, a breed known for their intelligence, loyalty, speed, endurance, and willingness to track and take down an adversary much larger than itself. Most of the dogs that work with the Navy SEALS are Mals, including Cairo who helped SEAL Team Six take down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan in Operation Neptune Spear on May 2, 2011, just three months before the helicopter carrying John and Bart went down. The war fields of Afghanistan are pictured in the background of the monument. “Service and Sacrifice” is a permanent part of the Navy Memorial Visitors’ Center, which is located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. midway between the U.S. Capitol and the White House and directly across from the National Archives. Navy Memorial Plaza contains the largest map in the world, known as the “Granite Sea.”
Kentucky K9 Memorial
Dedication – 11/3/21
Location – Highland Pet Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
The memorial is specifically for Northern Kentucky Police K-9 officers and is a stone monument etched with the names of each police K9 to serve Northern Kentucky and will include burial space for canines who have passed away at no charge to officers or their agencies.
Monmouth K9 Memorial
Location – Monmouth County Police Academy, New Jersey
Unveiled – 7/21/21
The statue stands next to the Monmouth County Police Academy. “In honor of the K-9s that served within the Monmouth County law enforcement agencies and those that made the ultimate sacrifice,” the concrete base reads. “Their loyalty, courage and bravery will never be forgotten.” The lifesize police dog statue was the result of a project by eagle scout Devin Motani, from Troop 101 in Morganville. Motani was able to raise $22,575 online. The project had a total value of $30,015. The memorial stands next to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office memorial for K-9 Solo, a german shepherd who was shot and killed during an attempted apprehension of someone who was barricaded inside a home in 1998, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Seek On Monument
Location – Veterans Memorial Park – 15 West Vine Street, Tooele, Utah,
Unveiled – 5/15/21
Sculptor – Marvin Hitesman
This Monument is the first time a Tracker handler and Labrador Retriever tracker dog have been portrayed together. The statue was inspired by the book “Seek On!”.
American Military Hero Dog Monument
Location – Boca Raton, Florida
Unveiled – 5/15/21
There are 2,700 dogs currently in active military service and about 700 that are deployed overseas, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The American Military Hero Dog Monument is a national tribute to the canines who serve in the five branches of the Armed Forces. The statue honors the service and sacrifice made by these courageous canines. Philanthropist Lois Pope donated the statue featuring a veteran and his dog.
Vietnam Combat War Dog Monument
Location – Layton Commons Park, Utah
Dedicated – 12/5/20
Sculptor – Lena Toritch
The monument honors the more than 58,000 soldiers who died in Vietnam and approximately 4,900 U.S. military service dogs used in Vietnam between 1964 and 1975 that never returned after serving in war. None of the dogs returned to civilian life and most were euthanized or turned over to the South Vietnamese Army. Vietnam was the largest concentrated effort of the use of dogs in any U.S. conflict. It’s estimated that the dogs and their handlers saved over 10,000 lives. The memorial sits about 20 yards from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Layton.
