Spike, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois with the Burbank Police Department, was shot and killed while pursuing a gunman during a traffic stop on November 23, 2025. He had just celebrated his birthday. Despite wearing a bulletproof vest, Spike died from his injuries. He was more than a police dog—he was a partner, a family member, and a living being who gave everything in service.

Spike’s death should never have happened.

K-9s are often sent into situations that armed human officers would never face unshielded. They're trained to be brave, but bravery shouldn't be mistaken for expendability. When we send dogs into direct gunfire during violent standoffs, we are choosing to sacrifice them in ways we would never ask of our human colleagues.

California needs to reexamine how and when K-9s are used. These animals are not tools or weapons. They are sentient beings capable of loyalty, fear, pain, and love. There must be strict limits on deploying K-9s into high-risk encounters—especially when there's a known threat of armed violence. Better options exist, including human containment tactics and non-lethal technologies.

We call on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and local police departments, including Burbank PD, to initiate a full policy review of K-9 use of force. Departments should be required to justify deployment protocols and adopt new statewide standards that prioritize the lives of K-9s alongside those of human officers.

Spike died doing what he was trained to do. Let his sacrifice be the last of its kind. We owe him, and every future K-9, a safer standard.

Sign this petition to demand humane, updated K-9 policies that value all lives in law enforcement.

Photo: NBCLA