Kylie’s journey of service has taken her across the globe — from disaster zones to war zones — each deployment leaving a deep mark on her life. Over the course of three deployments, she served in Indonesia following the devastating Padang earthquake on a humanitarian mission, supported aviation operations in Timor with Black Hawks at the airbase, and was later stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
It was in Kabul where Kylie worked closely with the New Zealand Army - a collaboration that became one of the most meaningful chapters of her service. Together, they commemorated events like Remembrance Day, ANZAC Day, Waitangi Day, and Australia Day. Of them all, ANZAC Day stood out as a particularly moving experience — a moment of shared honour, reflection, and deep camaraderie between the Aussie and Kiwi troops.
Coming Home Isn’t Always Coming Back
For Kylie, the hardest part of serving wasn’t what happened overseas — it was what happened after she came home.
“As a military person, you see devastation, you witness the worst parts of the world — and when you come back, it’s hard to just go on like nothing happened. Those images stay with you.”
That weight creates a sense of isolation. PTSD, anxiety, and depression made everyday life feel overwhelming. Simple things triggered intense responses, and eventually, Kylie found herself withdrawing from the people and places she once felt connected to.
“You want normal again,” she says. “You want to reconnect — but you don’t know how.”
Finding Loki: A Journey to Healing and Partnership
When her psychologist and GP suggested an assistance dog, it felt like a spark - a small, hopeful possibility. While she could’ve gone through official channels like DVA, Kylie wanted a deeper connection. “I’ve had dogs my whole life. I needed one that I could raise and train myself — to build that bond from day one.”
She carefully chose a breeder known for balanced temperaments and found Loki, a highly intelligent and intuitive border collie. Training him gave her structure, purpose, and connection — with her dog, her trainers, and with others on similar journeys. “It pushed me out of isolation,” Kylie shares. “It made me show up.”
Working with a not-for-profit organisation that supports veterans and first responders, Kylie and Loki trained through structured stages — temperament testing, an in-training jacket, maintaining logs, and preparing for the Public Access Test. From eight months old to 18 months, Loki grew into his role, and Kylie grew alongside him.
“It was constant work — but he gave me a reason to get up. A reason to try again.”
Loki: The Lifesaver in Fur
Loki doesn’t just follow commands — he knows. He senses Kylie’s anxiety rising before it peaks, and responds by jumping up to interrupt behaviour or stepping in to block people from getting too close. If she’s overwhelmed in public, he guides her to the nearest bathroom so she can find a private space to decompress. He retrieves her medication. He provides deep pressure therapy when her body and mind are spinning.
“He’s intuitive. He gives me something to focus on when everything feels too much.”
Over time, Loki has done far more than assist — he’s helped Kylie live. He’s helped her reconnect with family, rebuild a sense of community, and rediscover herself beyond her trauma.
“He saved my life. Slowly, he helped me step past the front door again.”
Freedom, Not Restraint: Why the Right Leash Matters
For Kylie, the Arctic Sammy Handsfree Leash has been a quiet game-changer. It allows Loki the freedom to move, to work, to sense and respond — without being tethered too tightly. And it gives Kylie freedom too: the ability to use her hands when she’s dizzy, to shop, carry her phone or wallet, or just move through the world more naturally.
“Loki needs space to do his thing, and I need my hands — this leash lets us do both.”
Whether on a bushwalk or in a busy airport, the leash adapts. The carabiner clips make it easy to secure Loki when needed, like during flights, and the design is versatile enough to suit all kinds of environments.
“It fits my life — not the other way around. That’s rare when you live with PTSD.”
Honour, Healing and Hope - Together
Kylie’s story is one of resilience, quiet strength, and the life-changing bond between a handler and their assistance dog. It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always look the same for everyone — and sometimes, it has four legs and a fur coat.
This ANZAC Day 2025, we’re proud to support the work of Assistance Dogs Trust NZ, an organisation that makes stories like Kylie and Loki’s possible. For every order placed on ANZAC Day, we’ll donate $5 NZD directly to the trust. With the cost of training a single assistance dog reaching up to $70,000 NZD, every dollar truly counts.
You can also top up our donation and contribute directly to this life-changing work here.
Because when we show up for our veterans and first responders, we honour not only their service — but their future, too.
