SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Layka’s story is special — she was awarded with military honors no other dog has received in 70 years and was the inspiration behind the recent movie “Dog.” She’s not from Utah, but the artist sculpting her statue is.
Layka was a military K-9 in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Rangers. During a mission in 2013, she went into a house where someone was shooting at U.S. soldiers. Layka took that person down, but not before she was shot four times. Her injuries cost Layka her front leg.
Layka survived and was awarded the Purple Heart. She also became the first dog since World War II to be awarded the Medal of Heroism.
The statue will eventually sit at the 1st Ranger Battalion Heritage Center at Hunter Army Air Field in Savannah, Georgia.
Source: ksl.com
