Heroic K9 Killed in Line of Duty Honored by PETA

Tree of Life Memorial Leaf Pays Tribute to Koki After He Was Gunned Down by Fleeing Suspect

For Immediate Release:
December 5, 2019

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

“In Loving Memory of Police K9 Koki. Courageous and Loved.” That’s the tribute that will appear on the Tree of Life memorial at the Sam Simon Center, PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters, in honor of Koki, a Belgian Malinois who worked with the El Mirage Police Department and was shot and killed on November 22 while protecting his fellow officers from harm. The memorial is dedicated to individuals of all species who are no longer with us but whose lives and actions made a difference.

“Koki was brave, selfless, and loyal until the end, and that deserves saluting,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA is honoring him for going above and beyond for humans and hopes his story inspires people always to show dogs the respect and kindness they deserve.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—advises everyone to treat dogs like members of the family by letting them live indoors, taking them on long walks every day, never crating or chaining them, and showing them lots of love and affection. Always keep an eye out for animals in need and report instances of cruelty and neglect to local authorities or to PETA, whose emergency responders are always available.

PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org.