LIBERTYVILLE – Man’s best friend was honored Sept. 26 with  the grand opening of the Northern Illinois Police K-9 Memorial.

The fallen police dogs from throughout the region remembered during the inaugural ceremony were met with applause and barks from the hundreds of law enforcement officers, families and active K-9s in attendance.

The memorial at Highland Memorial Park in Libertyville celebrated 79 police dogs from area departments that have died over the years. It includes a life-size statue of a handler with a K-9, and tiles engraved with the names of dogs, their handlers and time served.