K9 Service Dogs Get A Hero's Burial at Curlew Hills

Dozens of police officers and their families, plus local citizens and animal lovers gathered at  on Tuesday to honor three former members of the area’s K9 service units. 

The three canines were laid to rest in a special section of the Curlew Road cemetery called the Garden of Heroes, where the remains of 46 former K9 law enforcement dogs are buried. 

The ceremony, the sixth such memorial at Curlew Hills, was the idea of President and CEO Keenan Knopke, who covers the burial expenses for all the K9 service dogs, regardless of how or when they passed. 

“In many cases, they’re the ones who have kept the officer alive. That’s the importance of this ceremony, to remember them for what they did,” Knopke said prior to the ceremony.

Officers from the K9 units of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department were on hand to offer recollections of the loyal partners they have lost, as well as to inform people what integral parts of their daily lives these dogs become. 

“Even if you made a conscious effort not to bond with the dog, it’s impossible,“ Clearwater Police K9 unit commander Sgt. Jimmy Hall said. “You’re 40 hours a week working with them and 24/7 at home, so it’s constant.” 

According to the Clearwater Police Department, in 2010 the canine unit deployed their dogs a total of 514 times, resulting in 83 arrests with a total of 159 criminal charges. 

Hall is on his fourth K9 service dog and was there to honor his previous partner, Mako, who passed away last year. He said it takes a special person and a lifestyle adjustment to be a K9 officer. 

"The dog is the center of my universe,” he stated. 

Want to Help?

A portion of the proceeds from the  on Saturday goes to Retired K9 Heroes, a Tampa-based non-profit that seeks to help gain resources for retired law enforcement and emergency rescue canines.

To participate, bring your dog along to watch the D-Jays against the Tampa Yankees at  on Saturday, April 28, 6:30 p.m. (Admission $6 for people, $3 for dogs.)