Dog News

Litter of 10 Rescue Pups Named for Fallen Officers

by Amy Drew

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Tracy McMenamy is a volunteer foster for Operation Paws for Homes, a Virginia-based organization that rescues all breeds and all ages from high-kill shelters. She’s also the wife of a police officer, and it was with the danger of his job in mind that she named each of a litter of 10 rescue pups for an officer killed in the line of duty this year.

McMenamy, like many police spouses, says she is proud of her husband’s service – he has been on the job for 12 years – but also fears for his safety while he’s on the job. Thus far in 2016, 16 police officers have lost their lives while protecting and serving.

“Not having enough puppies to name all [this year’s] fallen officers is scary and it’s sad,” she told Washington D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA. “And so our biggest message is: stay safe out there.”

Five of the puppies were named for officers from her home region of Virginia, Maryland and D.C.

As of April 4, according to a post at Little Things, three of the 10 puppies had since been adopted by family members of the officers for which they had been named. No question that the love of a dog is something that can help ease the grief of such a loss.