A heroic army dog who lost her entire front leg while clearing a Taliban compound on patrol in Afghanistan has a new home with one of the men she saved . This week , US Army Staf Sgt Julian McDonald , welcomed 4-year-old Layka , a Belgian Malinois , into his Columbus , Ohio home after fighting to adopt her for two years . Layka was on her eighth overseas military tour with Sgt . McDonald in 2012 when she was shot four times at point blank range by an enemy fighter armed with an AK-47 . Scroll down for video . Great team : U.S. Army Staff SGT . Julian McDonald ( left ) of Columbus , Ohio has welcomed a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois named Layka ( right ) into his home after she protected him in Afghanistan in 2012 . Injured : Despite being injured , Layka completed the mission with her team and her wounds were treated upon her return to safe territory . Best friends : Layka and McDonald 's son Liam have become best friends and they play daily . Her comrades rushed her back for emergency surgery during which she had her leg amputated as the cost for saving them . So endebted to her for the selfless bravey she showed in combat , Sgt . McDonald decided that he must bring her home to live with his young family . ' I realized I had a responsibility to take care of her , just as she took care of me , ' said Sgt . McDonald to ABC News . 'She saved our lives and I owed it to her to obviously save hers . ' Medal of honor : Even though Layka no longer has her right leg , she has a new family to keep her safe and a medal of honor in recognition of her bravery . Fast friends : Layka is gentle with McDonald 's children despite being trained to attack enemy soldiers . In Afghanistan : While McDonald was on his eight overseas military tour and completing a mission to clear an enemy compound with Lyka , a man started to shoot at them . McDonald told ABC that Layka adapted to civilian life quickly and that she became fast friends with his son Liam . 'Her excitement brought me to tears , ' McDonald says . 'She was the sole reason why I was living and breathing and able to come home to my son and wife . ' McDonald says that Layka will always hold a special place near his heart . The U.S. military deploys more than 500 dogs worldwide at any given time . Each year a few are killed in action .
U.S. com Staff SGT . org McDonald of Columbus , Ohio has adopted a 4-year - old dog named buddy who protected him in Afghanistan . Despite being injured in 2012 , Layka completed the rescue with her team and her dogs were rescued upon her return to safe territory . ' She was the sole reason why I was living and loving and able to come home to my son and wife , ' said McDonald of his four legged partner .