Cole’s Dearest Service Dig Kaya Took Her Last Fight!

How helpful do you think a dog can be? We all know dogs are a man’s best friend. They really are. They are loyal, friendly, and stay with you throughout your life. But have you ever heard about service dogs? They take these qualities to the next level. They follow our commands and work with us as faithful companions.

Common service dog breeds include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers. With dog ownership growing significantly in recent years, over 80 million people in the U.S. now have service dogs as their companions.

These dogs offer health benefits, reduce stress, and increase happiness. Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities.

Saying service dogs are invaluable is an understatement. They can be crucial for anyone under stress or needing special care, especially veterans. Many veterans have service dogs for therapeutic companionship, helping with conditions like PTSD. As these dogs work for their owners, they also become their best friends.

Cole and Kaya

Let’s talk about a veteran and his service dog, who he loves very much. Marine Corps veteran Cole Lyle had a service dog named Kaya. Kaya, a German Shepherd, was always by his side, even sharing hundreds of airline flights with him. This is their story.

Cole, from North Texas, returned from a six-year tour in Afghanistan with PTSD. He tried pills and therapy, but nothing worked. He told WFAA that the pills made things worse, and he almost committed suicide. Fortunately, he didn’t.

Cole’s life savior

At that moment, one of his fellow veterans suggested he try a service dog. That’s how he got Kaya, spending $10,000 to train her. It was worth it. Cole said dogs made a huge difference for him. Kaya helped in many ways, waking him up from nightmares and stopping anxiety attacks.

When Cole had suicidal thoughts, thinking about Kaya stopped him because he knew she was waiting for him. Kaya didn’t just change Cole’s life; she also impacted veterans across the country. After becoming an advisor to the U.S. Senate on veterans’ policies, Cole and Kaya lobbied for the PAWS Act, which provides canine training for veterans with PTSD. The act was passed into law in August 2021 with bipartisan support.

A sad ending

Kaya was a well-known dog with a very active social life. She met many celebrities and politicians. She walked at Cole’s graduation and went on hundreds of flights with him around the country.

But that happy life also had its hard moments. Kaya developed a tumor under her tongue, which spread in January. She suffered a lot, and it was very difficult for Cole. He told WFAA that he didn’t want to see his beloved dog suffer, especially since she had helped him so much with his own suffering. He was deeply concerned about Kaya, as she had brought nothing but good to everyone around her.

A great act of honor

Cole realized Kaya didn’t have much time left. They were in Virginia, so he flew with her to Texas, saying Kaya had to be in her homeland for her final moments. They traveled with Southwest Airlines, with which they were quite familiar, having flown over 250 times together. This flight, however, was not ordinary. It was special.

When the airline learned that this was Kaya’s last flight, they arranged something special to mark the occasion. On February 2, the pilot made a special announcement about Kaya, highlighting her work as a service dog and her role in getting the PAWS Act passed. He concluded by saying they were honored to be her last flight.

The airline also shared a video of the moment, showing how much the passengers appreciated Kaya. In the video, you can see Kaya lift her head at the sound of applause. The airline provided mobility services for Kaya by giving them a cart when they arrived in Dallas.

Shortly after, Cole announced Kaya’s passing. He posted on Twitter, expressing his love and gratitude for his best friend and sharing his relief that she was no longer suffering.

At last, Kaya had to leave. That is all-natural. But the awesome gift she gave Cole and the nation will
not be swept away and will always be remembered.