University of Tennessee Athletics
Military Hero Honored At Saturday's Game
December 02, 2015 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee honored a special military veteran injured in Afghanistan during the Vols’ game against Vanderbilt. But this was no normal recognition because it involved no usual soldier.
Layka, a Belgian Malinois was injured while serving as a trained military dog with the Special Forces in Afghanistan in 2012. Layka was shot four times at point blank range while helping her unit clear a building. Despite her injures, which resulted in the loss of one of her front legs, Layka was able to help save the lives of soldiers in her unit. Upon her retirement, she was adopted by one of those soldiers.
Layka was featured on the cover of National Geographic in June 2014 as part of a series of articles entitled “The Dogs of War,” which focused on the training and use of military dogs in war.
Layka is in Knoxville undergoing rehab at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Canine, Arthritis, Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sports Medicine Center after suffering an injury to her other front leg earlier this year that threatened her long-term mobility.
The team at UT that is overseeing the rehabilitation of this American Hero was also recognized at the game.
