Arizona K-9 Memorial

Phoenix, Arizona

It wasn't always so, but we live in a grateful world where heroic animals, like their human counterparts, are officially, posthumously remembered with monuments. Starting in the 1970s with America's 20th century war dogs, statue sentiment on a state and national level expanded to include law enforcement dogs killed in the line of duty. A 2004 Arizona Senate bill signed into law by then governor Janet Napolitano officially endorsed a project to honor the state's fallen canines. The monument was funded through donations, and unveiled at its dedication ceremony on April 7, 2006.

The Arizona Law Enforcement K-9 Memorial stands in Wesley Bolin Plaza. A wedge of dark granite is carved with the memorial name and a stylized paw print. On the adjacent pedestal, a bronze German shepherd, sculpted by Jeff Davenport, stands in ready-to-spring alertness. Beneath his front paws is a pile of sculpted pistols and holsters. The dog sculpture faces another nearby memorial, devoted to fallen peace officers.

The K-9 pedestal lists fallen K-9s from municipalities and police departments around the state -- K-9 Sam from Maricopa, K-9 Striker from Scottsdale...

"Honoring the jaws with paws that gave their all for the cause."