Zita Kendall suffered from the rare Wilson's Disease. She had service dogs who helped her survive as long as she did, including Kyla Raye, a chihuahua, and a much larger white dog, Spirit.

Spirit detected excess copper build-up before it reached a critical point, and little Kyla was trained to as an "aspiration alert dog." She would ride about in a pouch worn on Zita's chest, and alert by barking, warning her to sit down before she passed out.

When in 2004 Zita died of her illness, the two service dogs went together to another woman to continue in their occupations.

Learn more about service and therapy dogs