Until now, when it comes to dogs being honored, most of us immediately think of certificates or trophies. However, few would have guessed that there is a dog in the world that has been awarded a genuine bachelor’s degree for its significant contributions to its owner, presented by the university itself. This has stirred excitement in the online community.
The main character in this story is a dog named Kali, who made headlines globally in 2018 during a university graduation ceremony. This is understandable, as among countless young men and women stepping up to receive their bachelor’s degrees, the dog Kali also had the honor of standing in that group and proudly accepting a diploma alongside its owner.
It is known that Kali’s owner is Tiffany Ascanio, a student who has faced some health issues. Taking advice from the university’s disability support center, she brought Kali to class for all four years of college as a “therapy dog,” with Kali being fully trained to assist its owner during her treatment and throughout her life. Reflecting on her loyal companion, Tiffany admitted her jealousy of Kali: “I wouldn’t have been able to study well or even sleep soundly without Kali. To be honest, at school, it has more friends than I do“.
After successfully completing its duties over four years, Kali’s reward was receiving a certificate from Florida International University for completing the student support training program. The dog also made history by becoming the first pet to wear a graduation gown and receive a diploma from this institution.
