After six years of service that included a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Cole Lyle ’16 was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) upon returning home. Adjusting to civilian life proved challenging, and traditional treatment options offered little relief.
“My perspective of society was completely altered,” he emphasized, “and I was close to becoming a veteran suicide statistic.” Determined to find an alternative solution, he discovered the power of service dogs—an approach the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs did not financially support at the time. “I paid for my dog, Kaya, and her training,” Lyle shared. “She was a vital part of my healing journey and the best investment I ever made.”
Bubbly and energetic in her downtime, Kaya transformed into a poised and professional service animal when her vest was on. She traveled alongside Lyle, a political science alumnus of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, from Texas A&M University’s campus to the halls of Capitol Hill when he began lobbying for legislation that could change the outlook for veterans like him: the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) Act. Signed into law in 2021, the act established a pilot program that provides veterans with any form of PTSD access to service dogs and training.
“More people knew her than me,” Lyle joked. “She was ‘Kaya, the well-behaved German shepherd.’ I was just ‘the guy with the dog.’”
Kaya saw the fruits of her and Lyle’s labor before passing from cancer in 2023. “I have since founded Kaya’s K9s, a nonprofit that funds veterinary care for veterans’ service dogs, to create a legacy for her,” Lyle explained. Today, he independently runs the organization and continues his advocacy efforts as the national director of veterans affairs and rehabilitation for The American Legion, ensuring that no veteran is left without the support they deserve.
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