A college in upstate New York presented a service dog with an honorary degree when his owner received her master's degree over the weekend.
Brittany Hawley took her loyal service dog, Griffin, everywhere as she worked toward her master's degree in occupational therapy at Clarkson University in Potsdam.
When she finally received her degree over the weekend, Griffin was by her side in a cap and gown to receive one of his own.
"I pushed for him to graduate from Day One," Hawley, who uses a wheelchair and has chronic pain, told The Associated Press. "He did everything I did."
The school's board of trustees honored the 4-year-old golden retriever during a recognition ceremony on Saturday.
The board said Griffin demonstrated "extraordinary effort, steadfast commitment and diligent dedication to the well-being and student success" of Hawley.
Hawley said Griffin does a wide range of tasks for her, including opening doors, turning on lights, and helping her access her items out of her reach.
He also provides comfort for Hawley, whose pain has caused anxiety and
depression
.
Hawley was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome or CRPS/RSD, when she was a teenager, according to The Wilson Times.
Symptoms of the chronic neurological disease include prolonged and severe pain, change in skin temperature and skin color. The disease often manifests after an injury.
Hawley met Griffen through Paws4Prisons, an organization that teaches inmates at West Virginia prisons how to train and place service dogs.
"The inmates allow many dogs to come up to you and let the dog choose you," Hawley told AP. "Some dogs were scared of the wheelchair. Griffin jumped right into my lap and licked me across the face."
Griffin also accompanied Hawley to her internship at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where she helped solders with mobility impairments and psycho-social disorders.
For patients, brushing a dog can help improve range of motion and ease anxiety, Hawley said.
As she studies for board exams and applies for jobs post-graduate school, Hawley said Griffin will be by her side.
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