Very Good Service Dog Awarded Honorary Diploma With His Human

Brittany Hawley graduated this weekend from Clarkson University in upstate New York, but she didn't receive her degree alone - her loyal service dog Griffin Hawley was there with her, receiving his own honorary diploma.

Brittany, who is wheelchair-bound and relies on Griffin for a number of tasks, as well as emotional support, says that she pushed him to graduate from "Day One."

The pair joined forces in 2016 after Hawley, who uses a wheelchair and has chronic pain, applied for a service dog through “paws4prisons,” a program where inmates train animals.

Griffin accompanied her to lectures and internships and was always there to render assistance.

According to the university's statement, the two have "pursued 100% together a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy" - with Griffin attending all the same classes, lectures, faculty appointments, group study sessions, social activities, research projects, and clinical experiences that Brittany did.

“I pushed for him to graduate from Day One,” Hawley said. “He did everything I did.”

It was only fair then that Griffin received a diploma too.