New York: Whenever Brittany Hawley went to the class, she would always be accompanied by Griffin, her faithful service dog. If she was in need of her cell phone, he would fetch it for her. Griffin would accompany her even when she used to assist her patients as part of her internship.
So the only fare thing to do when Hawley was being honoured completing her masters in occupational therapy, was to honour Griffin with an honorary diploma of his own. "I pushed for him to graduate from Day One...He did everything I did." said Hawley.
On the recognition ceremony on Saturday, the board of trustees of the Potsdam, New York honoured the four year old golden retriever. They said that he demonstrated "extraordinary effort, steadfast commitment and diligent dedication to the well-being and student success” of Hawley.
Hawley of Wilson who is 25 years old uses a wheelchair and has chronic pain. She said that Griffin helps her with wide range of physical tasks which includes opening of doors and turning the lights on among others.
"Some dogs were scared of the wheelchair. Griffin jumped right into my lap and licked me across the face”, said a happy Hawley. "My patients would say, `My therapist today is Brittany and Griffin’”, says Hawley. She and Griffin would always be a package deal, whenever she would apply for a job.
"I couldn't participate in anything without him... I'm so used to him being there", Hawley adds.