CHICAGO — Giant German Shepherds will soon stand guard along the Magnificent Mile, but not in the way you might think.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and PAWS Chicago on Tuesday launched a new public art installation and fundraising campaign: K-9s for Cops.
K-9s For Cops statue. [Photos by DNAinfo/Ed Komenda]
Similar to the Horses of Honor program, the K-9 campaign will display up to 300 German Shepherd statues individually designed and painted by Chicago artists along Michigan Avenue.
"The other great animal besides horses that is affiliated with law enforcement is the police dog, the K-9 unit," said Richard Simon, an advisory board member of the memorial foundation.
Today, the Chicago Police Department uses 65 dogs to help officers conduct building searches, locate missing persons, track hiding suspects, detect drugs and sniff out explosives.
Police dog Simon standing next to the K-9s For Cops statue.
"The K-9 Unit is a really integral part of what we do, and I appreciate the hard work that the K-9 officers do every day," said Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson.
For $2,000, any business in Chicago can buy a blank, 54-inch dog statue made with weather-proof fiberglass and commission a Chicago artist to paint it. Once complete, owners can anchor the statue to a concrete base in front of their shops.
You can purchase a K-9 statue here.
Blank, 54-inch fiberglass German Shepherd statue.
The foundation hopes to install 300 statutes in front of sponsor businesses along Chicago's Magnificent Mile from July 23 to Labor Day
The K-9 art campaign memorializes Chicago’s fallen officers while supporting the families of officers killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
A portion of all proceeds will support PAWS Chicago’s effort to offer free spay/neuter services and medical care for pets of residents in poor communities.
"This is a wonderful program," said Paula Fasseas, chairman of PAWS Chicago. "PAWS Chicago is very honored to partner."
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