‘Solemn Honour’: Texas Service Dog With More Than 250 Flights To The Southwest Takes Last Journey Home

DALLAS – We don’t cry, you cry.

Okay, we’re all crying after watching this video posted by Southwest Airlines on Tuesday.

On February 2, an airline from Dallas had a very special guest aboard a plane bound for Love Field: Kaia, a German Shepherd service dog, on her last flight.

Kaia, who was traveling with her handler Cole Lyle, was recently diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer, the flight’s pilot told passengers.

As the pilot explained, Kai was trained to help veterans with their mental health. And, more remarkably, she was the mastermind behind the PAWS Act, which created a dog training program for veterans suffering from PTSD.

She was a valued Southwest passenger, having flown their aircraft with Cole, a Marine Corps veteran, over 250 times.

“We have the solemn honor of taking her on our last flight,” the pilot said, “when she goes home to rest where she was born and where she first met Cole.”

After the announcement of the pilot, the flight caused a storm of applause from Kaya, and she jumped up from the covers.

When they arrived in Dallas, Cole carried Kaia out of the plane, and Southwest provided a trolley to help her navigate the terminal’s mobility issues.

A few days later, Kaya passed away, according to Cole, who posted a message about her death on Twitter.

“My heart is broken and I’m numb without him,” Cole wrote. “But it’s good because you don’t suffer anymore. Thank you for bringing Semper Fidelis to life.”