Kaya, a smart and intuitive German Shepherd, passed away on Feb. 4. A few months shy of 9 years old, she became an ambassador for service dogs and veterans’ mental health across the U.S.
“Kaya greatest legacy is — and always will be — the veterans who reached out and told me that she inspired them to get their service dog,” Cole Lyle, Kaya’s owner, told NPR. “And if they hadn’t, they would have killed themselves.”
After returning from Afghanistan, the veteran Marine corporal found that medication only exacerbated his PTSD symptoms over the years. Searching for another solution, he adopted Kaya in 2014. He said he instantly connected with her.
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