Dog and Owner Both Receive Degrees On Graduation Day
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Dog and owner both receive degrees on Graduation Day.
Anyone who has ever suffered from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can tell you how unbearable it is. Having to go through life with this disease means that being alone is not an option. You never know when your muscles would contract or for how long.
But having CRPS at the age of 16 did not let Brittany Hawley stop her from fulfilling her dreams. She always wanted to earn a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Aware that she would have to live away from her family to achieve her goals in life, Hawley applied for a service dog.
Destined to be together
On the same day, paws4people approved Hawley’s application for a service dog, Hawley got an interview at New York City’s Clarkson University. From the day Hawley got her service dog, whom she named GRIFFIN (yes, his name’s spelled that way), the pair had been inseparable.
From merely accompanying her to doing things for her, GRIFFIN helped make Hawley’s life as a student easier. In fact, GRIFFIN would not even have to do anything sometimes. By just being there to listen to Hawley talk about her problems, GRIFFIN would already be alleviating Hawley’s pain.
But GRIFFIN did more than just make Hawley’s day-to-day life better. Without him knowing it, GRIFFIN also paved the way for Hawley to meet the man who would later become her fiancé.
Giving credit where credit is due, Dog and owner both receive degrees on Graduation Day.
Recognizing the fact that GRIFFIN contributed a lot to his owner’s success, the Board of Trustees at Clarkson University decided to award the four-legged member of the school an honorary diploma.
On the day of Hawley’s graduation, GRIFFIN was also made to wear a graduation gown, which he did not seem too fond of. GRIFFIN also marched along with his owner before they were both given their respective diplomas.
To know more about Hawley and GRIFFIN's story, watch the video below:
