For Jay Nix, some of the most vital members of any police department have four legs and fur. Like any officer, he said, police K-9s put their lives on the line every day — and sometimes lose them.
“Every year, these dogs are putting their life on the line to ultimately save the ones that we’re out here serving, as well as the officers that are utilizing them to help them do this job,” said Nix, president of K9s United. “That sacrifice isn’t going unnoticed.”
To honor police K-9s that died in the line of duty, national nonprofit organization K9s United will host its seventh annual Memorial Run on Tuesday, Sept. 1 — National Police K9 Day. The event calls on law enforcement personnel and communities across the country to participate in a 9K, 5K or one-mile run. K9s United uses the funds from the event to support active-duty police K-9s, helping secure advanced training, safety equipment, heat alarms, kennels and other equipment. This year’s memorial honors 23 police K-9s that died in the line of duty during 2025, including but not limited to:
Texas:
- K9 Chico, Boerne Police Department
- K9 Azi, McKinney Police Department
Departments in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia are also remembering K-9s who died in the line of duty. Participants can register online for the run at k9sunited.org…