Ridgeland Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Conon’s Closet

RIDGELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS RIBBON CUTTING FOR CANON’S CLOSET

RIDGELAND, MS – The City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Ridgeland Police Department, unveiling a special closet filled with items for children and their pets who have been abandoned.

Ridgeland Police Chief Brian Myers located an unused space designated as “Canon’s Closet”. Canon was a K-9 officer who passed away on October 12, 2026. His handler was Sargeant Ray Daniels, who passed away on July 10, 2022. The closet is named in honor of K-9 Canon and in memory of Sgt. Daniels.

“Our officers are often called to hotels, motels, apartments, abandoned houses, and cars to find children, often with their pets, alone, afraid, cold, and hungry. Our officers take these children to the Ridgeland Police Station and inform Child Protective Services. Pets are placed with the Mississippi Animal Rescue League,” said Linda Bynum, Executive Director of the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce.

“While the children and pets wait at the station, our officers go to local stores and purchase necessities for them. They pay for these items with their own money. Because of the generosity of our great citizens of Ridgeland and surrounding areas, this will no longer be the case. Everything a child could need or want is inside the closet,” Bynum added.

Items include diapers, pull-ups, baby wipes, non-perishable food and drink items, blankets, hygiene items, coloring books, crayons, toys, stuffed animals, books, clothing, as well as dog and cat food.

The media and public are invited to attend the ribbon cutting which will be followed by a reception.

DATE: Wednesday, August 23

TIME: 10:30 A.M.

LOCATION: Roll Call Room, Ridgeland Police Department, 115 West School Street