PETA Honors Fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick

For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2021

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

IN HONOR OF

BRIAN SICKNICK

FRIEND TO DOGS

That’s the message that will grace the Tree of Life memorial at PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters in honor of Brian Sicknick, the U.S. Capitol police officer and South River, New Jersey, native who died from injuries sustained during the January 6 riot in Washington, D.C.

Friends and family members have noted Sicknick’s dedication to his elderly dachshunds, one of whom he was often seen carrying during their many walks together because of the dog’s blindness. He was also known for sending officers letters stressing the need to protect animals.

“PETA hopes the kindness and care that Officer Sicknick showed to his beloved dogs will inspire others to adopt companion animals and cherish them as members of the family,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

Around 70 million dogs and cats are homeless in the U.S. at any given time, and an estimated 10% of those end up in animal shelters, where many have to be euthanized for humane reasons or because there simply aren’t enough suitable homes for them. PETA encourages everyone to adopt from animal shelters and never buy from pet stores or breeders, which contribute to the homeless-animal overpopulation crisis.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.