LIBERTYVILLE – Man’s best friend was honored Wednesday morning at the unveiling of the Northern Illinois Police K-9 Memorial.

Fallen police dogs from the region were remembered with applause by hundreds of law enforcement officers and their families and the barks of active K-9s.

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