- Kaya the service dog went on her final flight last week after being diagnosed with cancer.
- The pilot on her Southwest flight thanked her and her handler Cole Lyle, and a video of it went viral.
A video of a Southwest pilot thanking a service dog on the final flight of her life viral on TikTok, highlighting her legacy of securing better help for wounded US veterans.
Footage posted by the Southwest Airlines account, viewed 12.5 million times, showed the German shepherd, named Kaya, sleeping soundly on a furry rug as the pilot told the passengers her story.
The flight, on February 2, took Kaya home to Texas, where she died two days later from cancer. She was travelling with her handler, Cole Lyle, a veterans' advocate who served in the Marine Corps.
Lyle and Kaya helped bring about the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) Act of 2021, which helps fund service dogs to assist with mental health conditions, including PTSD.
"We have a special guest on today's flight," the plot said in the video. "Kaya is a German shepherd service dog who has been with her handler Cole since 2014. She was specifically trained to help veterans cope with mental-health issues.
The pilot said Kaya had flown with Southwest 250 times, the majority of her 320 total plane journeys. She traveled around the country with Lyle lobbying for the PAWS Act, showcasing the benefits of service dogs.
Lyle's experience is personal: he has described getting recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks, which Kaya was trained to help with by waking him up or licking him to calm him down.
The act was signed into law in August 2021 by President Joe Biden.
Lyle was paired with Kaya in 2014 after his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. He told Roll Call that dogs can give veterans a sense of purpose, which they may be lacking after leaving the military.
"And there are no negative side effects of a dog — except for maybe an accident on the floor, which is extremely rare," he said.
Lyle tweeted on February 1 that Kaya had been diagnosed with an untreatable cancer.
"Got terrible news today," he said. "Kaya is spending her last days on earth w/ us. Flying to TX tomorrow, her final flight, so she can rest where she was born. My heart is broken. Was a great service dog for me, and an inspiration to many more. She's had a wonderful life."
In the TikTok, the pilot said he had "the solemn honor" of taking Kaya on her trip back to Dallas — "where she was born and first met Cole." He thanked Kaya and Lyle for their service on behalf of Southwest.
"If you have the opportunity and feel so inclined, feel free to search for her story," he said. "Pay her a visit when we arrive in Dallas to show her some love."
The plane passengers then started applauding, waking Kaya up.
@southwestair We were honored to fly our loyal friend and hero, Kaya, home to rest after a lifetime of hard work. Throughout her career, Kaya flew with us over 250 times to help establish the PAWS Act which united Veterans with service dogs. We are so grateful to be a part of her legacy, and we thank her and her owner, Cole, for their many years of service. ❤️
♬ Ambient-style emotional piano - MoppySound
Kaya was euthanized on February 4. Lyle posted a photo of her a tribute to her life and work.
"Rest in Peace, Kaya. Cheers to a life well-lived and loved," he wrote. "Miss you already, babygirl. My heart is broken and I'm numb without you. But it's gladdened because you're no longer in pain."
He also thanked her for epitomizing the motto of the United States Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis," which is Latin for "always faithful."
—Cole T. Lyle (@ctlyle1) February 4, 2023
Kaya also received commendation from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who sponsored an early version of the PAWS act when he was a congressman.
"I met Marine Corps veteran Cole Lyle and Kaya when we were working to pass the PAWS Act in Congress," DeSantis tweeted. "Kaya's story has helped countless service dogs and wounded veterans across the country and her legacy lives on."