South Shore Plaza Memorial To Honor Braintree Police Dog

Update: In person tile sales at South Shore Plaza have been canceled as sales have outpaced expectations, officials told Patch. This story has been updated to reflect that change.

BRAINTREE, MA — Just over a year since the death of Braintree Police K9 Kitt, a memorial will be created in his honor, and raise funds for a foundation in his name.

South Shore Plaza has announced plans to open a community memorial with Braintree’s K9 Kitt Foundation, honoring heroic K9 teams. The center and K9 Kitt Foundation will team up with the local Braintree community to raise funds for the non-profit through the creation of the tribute.

South Shore Plaza will place a memorial in their food court in honor of Kitt, a Braintree Police Department K9 who was killed in the line of duty in 2021. Plans for the memorial include retiling the upper-level food court entryway, with tiles to be purchased and painted by community members and mall visitors. South Shore officials said there is space for up to 200 tiles.

All proceeds will benefit the K9 Kitt Foundation.

Kitt was shot and killed when police responded to a domestic violence situation in June 2021. Officers Matthew Donaghue and William Cushing Jr. were injured with multiple gunshot wounds while responding to the Braintree Village apartments. Authorities identified the suspect as Andrew Homen, 34, of Brockton. Homen was shot-and-killed after ambushing the officers in the woods, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.

Cushing was Kitt's partner and is responsible for the creation of the K9 Kitt Foundation in June 2022. The foundation’s goal is to provide medical relief to injured K9s across the country, officials said. Funds raised by the foundation support K9 teams nationwide by assisting with equipment, training, and public awareness.

"I know Kitt had an impact on my life and my ability to continue to live it, and that together we helped countless people in their effort to find closure as victims by locating their assailants," said Cushing. "Endeavors like this and the Foundation are supportive validations of Kitt’s life and career. Thank you to Simon Property Group, the South Shore Plaza and the people of Braintree for memorializing Kitt…one of a kind."

Tiles are being sold on K9 Kitt’s Facebook and Instagram pages through direct message and by Venmo payment starting Nov. 14, with pick up at Kay’s Cans & Bottles, located at 28 Commercial St. in Braintree, officials said.

Once completed, families can return painted tiles to the Mall Management Office until Dec. 20. Tiles are $25 each.