‘Someone has my back’: How a service dog helped an Army Veteran conquer PTSD and graduate from Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - Liyah Stewart got two awards when she graduated from Auburn’s Harrison College of Pharmacy in May.

One for her, another for her furry friend: a Labrador mix named Johnson.

“The dean of the pharmacy school, Leigh Ann Ross, asked, ‘Hey, can I put this patch on him? It’s like a little Auburn patch that says Auburn graduate. And then it has like a paw print on the center with the Auburn insignia,” she said.

Stewart, a veteran, suffers from PTSD after she says she was sexually assaulted during her time in service.

She felt lost and misunderstood, which led to isolation.

A therapist suggested a service dog, and Johnson made all the difference.

“We’ve gone so many places. We’ve traveled so much. I’ve been completely out and about and I’ve reached a level of comfort to where now I can go places knowing that someone has my back no matter what,” Stewart explained.

Stewart says because of military culture some service members are scared to speak up about their mental health struggles.

Her message is to do it anyway.

“Just know that you’re not alone and that there is more strength in talking about it than there is not talking about it,” said the Army Veteran and Auburn graduate.

Stewart was connected with her four-legged companion through an organization called K9s for Warriors.

They provide service dogs – many of them rescues – to military Veterans nationwide suffering from mental health struggles.

According to their website, they’ve paired more than 1,350 Veterans with service dogs across all 50 states.

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