Griffin, a Golden Retriever service dog, shared a special moment with his owner, Brittany Hawley, as he received an honorary diploma from Clarkson University. The recognition took place on Saturday, December 15, 2018, during the university’s December Recognition Ceremony in Potsdam, New York. Brittany Hawley, who also graduated with a doctorate in Occupational Therapy, attended every class with Griffin by her side.
Throughout Hawley’s academic journey, Griffin remained a constant companion. He assisted her in various ways, such as retrieving her phone when needed and accompanying her during her internship while she worked with patients.
It was only fitting that Griffin was there to celebrate as Hawley earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy—this time receiving his own honorary certificate.
“From the very beginning, I fought for him to graduate,” Hawley said on Monday. “Everything I did, he did.”
The university’s board of trustees recognized the four-year-old Golden Retriever for his “exceptional effort, unwavering dedication, and committed support” in helping Hawley achieve academic success.
Hawley, 25, from Wilson, North Carolina, uses a wheelchair and experiences chronic pain. Griffin plays a crucial role in her daily life, assisting with physical tasks such as opening doors, switching on lights, and retrieving items she points to with a laser. More than that, he provides emotional comfort, helping her cope with pain, anxiety, and depression.
Hawley received Griffin through the “paws4prisons” program, which teaches inmates in West Virginia prisons to train highly skilled service dogs.
“The inmates introduce you to several dogs and let the dog choose you,” Hawley explained. “Some were scared of the wheelchair, but Griffin immediately jumped into my lap and licked my face.”
“My patients would say, ‘Today, my therapists are Brittany and Griffin,’” she added.
As she moves forward in her career, Hawley plans to ensure that she and Griffin remain a team.
“When I apply for jobs, we come as a package deal,” she said. “I couldn’t do anything without him—I’m so used to having him with me.”
