The NYPD is once again showcasing its “ruff”-and-ready dogs with very important jobs.
“New York’s Finest” furry creatures are being featured in a new 2026 calendar, exemplifying the importance of having man’s best friends on the job alongside their human partners in crime-fighting.
amNewYork visited some of the stars of the 2026 NYPD Canine and Friends Calendar, which includes hounds that patrol the subways, dogs that respond to terroristic threats, and even horses that patrol the streets.
“It’s a wonderful way for us to highlight the hard-working men and women in the NYPD who are out there with their four-legged partners keeping us safe. They are patrolling critical infrastructure. They’re in the transit system. They’re going around to public places like Times Square, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree,” said Taylor Kahn of the New York City Police Foundation, which has been producing the annual calendar for a decade now.
While the animal handlers told amNewYork that pups are a vital asset to the work the department does on a daily basis, they all underscored that they are far more than mere tools.
Police Officer Michael Bellinger partners with K9-ZADRO. He says his dog works with him in the day and goes home with him at night, making them family.
“We’re together 24 hours, seven days a week. We go home together, we ride in the car together — we spend all day together. He’s pretty much my best friend, my best partner that I’ve ever had,” Bellinger told amNewYork. “There’s not a moment that I can’t even think about him.”
In addition to the strong bond forged between human and dog, the NYPD also continues the legacy of officers who have perished in the line of duty. According to NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta, all the police dogs and horses are named after fallen police officers to keep their memory and legacy alive.
“Each one of these dogs is named after a fallen officer and the important job they do in the city. I think that’s equally as important; it’s their family member, it’s someone they lost in the line of duty,” Chief Gulotta said. “I think it’s one of the most special things we do in the NYPD.”
Det. Katrina Narvaez knows this aspect all too well. Her father, Lt. Federico Narvaez, was shot to death in Brooklyn in 1996 when she was only 9 years old. Today, her four-legged partner is named Freddy after her beloved father.
“My father died when I was nine years old. And, you know, I’ve spent more of my life without him than with him. So he’s always on my mind, every day,” Narvaez said, adding that her pup aids with her grief. “Having him (Freddy) with me every day, it makes it a little better, you know, like, it helps it, it’s a good reminder of him.”
Proceeds from the calendar will support the New York City Police Foundation, which helps the NYPD obtain essential resources. To purchase a calendar, visit nycpolicefoundation.org/2026calendar.
