Time and time again, dogs prove themselves to be one of the most dedicated, and loyal animals you could ever have as a companion, and this U.S. military combat dog named Layka is another perfect example.
While serving in Afghanistan, Layka was shot four times at point-blank range, yet still managed to protect her human soldiers by subduing the shooter. Her act of courage saved every member of that team.
In order to survive, Layka had to endured a seven hour surgery to remove the bullets, and amputate her front right leg. Her handler, Staff Sgt. Julian McDonald knew he owed Layka for saving his life, and had to adopt her as part of his family.
“I owed this dog every moment that I have from here on out… I felt really bad because I was the one that put her in the building. Then happy at the same time because I was still alive and my buddies to my left and my right were also still alive,” Julian explained. “If the dog has put in the time for the country, then the country owes it to them to put the time into them.”
Despite warnings that Layka was too aggressive to be a family dog, Julian still fought to make it work. Julian believed that even though Layka had done scary things, she wasn’t a viscous animal, and she still deserved a good home. And when Julian first brought Layka home, she proved him right.
“She went right up to Liam and submitted, and laid right on her back. My one-year-old son walked right over there and got on top of her chest, grabbed her ears, put his thumb in her nose, and his hand in her mouth and she wasn’t doing anything. She was just laying there and taking every bit,” Julian said.
Watch the entire video below to see this dog’s incredible transformation from a military combat dog to a family pet.
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[Featured image credit: National Geographic]