Melissa and Mark Hortman’s children released their first statement since the assassination of their parents on Saturday. In that statement, Sophie and Colin Hortman said, “the best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”

One of the ways they said to do that is to “pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.”

Melissa and Mark had a beloved golden retriever named Gilbert, who they adopted from an Eden Prairie nonprofit called Helping Paws. Officials announced Monday that Gilbert also did not survive the shooting.

Helping Paws trains service dogs for people with disabilities as well as first responders and veterans dealing with PTSD. The Hortmans were avid volunteers with the organization.

Alyssa Golob is the executive director of Helping Paws and she joined MPR News host Nina Moini on Minnesota Now.