He was with her every step of the way, so it made sense to make Griffin an honorary college graduate.
Griffin is Brittany Hawley's service dog. He went to every class with his owner. So when she received her diploma for a masters in occupational therapy, Griffin also got a diploma of his own, The Associated Press reported.
"I pushed for him to graduate from day one. He did everything I did," Hawley told the AP.
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The board of trustees at Clarkson University in Albany, New York, agreed, saying Griffin demonstrated, “extraordinary effort, steadfast commitment and diligent dedication to the well-being and student success.”
Griffin opens doors, turns on lights and retrieves items Hawley marks using a laser pointer since she is confined to a wheelchair and has chronic pain. Griffin also comforts her when she has anxiety and depression caused by the pain, the AP reported.
Griffin also accompanied Hawley as she worked her internship at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Patients she worked with brushed Griffin, working on their range of motion and ease anxiety.
When she gets a post-graduate job, Griffin will be part of the package deal.
"I couldn't participate in anything without him. I'm so used to him being there," Hawley told the AP.
Hawley got Griffin through a program where inmates at West Virginia prisons train assistance dogs. The program is called "paws4prison."