After Tragedy Struck, a Blind Veteran Found Hope in the Most Unexpected Place — Her Service Dog’s Brother

About two months ago, tragedy struck a legally blind U.S. Army veteran when her service dog was found dead near a Georgia interstate. However, her story now has a happy ending with the arrival of a new canine support dog.

In a Facebook post published in March, the Top Dogg K9 Foundation, a nonprofit that pairs support dogs with disabled veterans, announced that Bruno, a canine who belonged to Kerrie Porter, a veteran living with disabilities, had died.

Fox affiliate WAGA reported at the time that Bruno’s body was found near Interstate 285, approximately 3 miles from Porter’s home. The outlet reported that Bruno was fatally struck by a car

“Bruno bolted Sunday night [March 9] when a group of dogs spooked him during a walk,” the nonprofit wrote. “A supporter who saw Bruno’s story online alerted us this morning to a potential sighting along an interstate. Two members of our team quickly went to the area and found Bruno’s lifeless body on the shoulder of the road.”

“We are heartbroken,” their statement continued. “The team was able to recover Bruno’s service vest and our founder Blake [Rashad] returned it to this incredibly devastated veteran.”

The group said that they had paired Bruno with Porter, who has PTSD in addition to being legally blind, just two weeks earlier.

“In the two weeks since he was paired with Kerrie, Bruno’s specialized training provided crucial assistance, significantly improving her quality of life, even waking her in her sleep when her blood pressure went too high,” Top Dogg said in an online fundraiser created to establish a memorial for Bruno and help Porter get a replacement service dog.

As Porter told NBC affiliate WXIA, “He was such a sweet dog.”

On Monday, April 28, more than a month after Bruno’s death, Top Dogg surprised Porter with a new service dog, a poodle named Hayden who just so happens to be Bruno’s brother, reported WAGA.

In a news release shared with PEOPLE, Top Dogg acknowledged a $15,000 donation by Atlanta-based law firm Montlick Injury Attorneys to help pay for the costs associated with providing Hayden to Porter.

“Knowing the profound impact a service dog has on a veteran’s life, we were determined to help Kerrie find a new partner, especially considering how vulnerable she has been since the loss of Bruno,” said Blake Rashad, Top Dogg’s co-founder, per the news release. “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Montlick Injury Attorneys, whose support has made it possible for Kerrie to receive Hayden.”

“We are honored to give back to those who have given so much, and we’re proud to support Kerrie as she begins a new chapter filled with hope and healing,” said Montlick Injury Attorneys in an April 28 Facebook post.

Porter, who has a young daughter, told WXIA that it is overwhelming to her that so many people cared about her story and wanted to help.

“The fact that he can go everywhere with me is a big deal,” Porter said of Hayden, according to CBS affiliate WANF. “Bruno went with me to three different VA facilities, and if you have ever been to the VA, it’s not a walk in the park.”