November 23, 2008

When Amy Jones received her law degree two weeks ago, her service dog, Skeeter, was also honored as with a 'dog'tor degree from Baylor University School of Law. (Pet Pulse Photo Courtesy of Amy Jones)

WACO, Texas -- He can pick up items as small as a dime with his teeth, but if you need him to write a legal brief, Skeeter also has the training -- and degree -- required.

The 6-year-old service dog received an honorary law degree from Baylor University two weeks ago, when his owner, Amy Jones, graduated alongside him.

The black Labrador deserved the degree, Jones said, as he has been present every step of the way over the past two-and-a-quarter years of intensive study.

Baylor University's dean and professors appeared to agree with Jones, as they presented Skeeter with his signed and authorized honorary degree on Saturday, Nov. 8.

"Whereas he is now an older, wiser and even a bit fatter dog; Whereas those who survive Baylor Law School are entitled to all barking rights, entitlements and appearances thereto," Skeeter's diploma reads.

"Therefore, be it hereby decreed that Baylor University School of Law confers upon Skeeter the Labrador this honorary juris 'dog'tor degree."

Jones was paired with the service dog in 2004, two years after she broke her neck in a skiing accident, leaving the native Alaskan paralyzed from the chest down.

Jones kept her sights set on her future and career, but still struggled with simple tasks.

"The biggest thing was that I seemed to drop things all the time," she said. "I could be in a store, or my house, and something would fall and I wouldn't be able to get it. It was frustrating at times."

Jones tried out a few service dogs before meeting Skeeter in California. The match, she said, was "amazing."

"I go everywhere with him," Jones said. "We go outside and play and we went to school with each other every day."

Skeeter was an active class participant, Jones said, who would sit quietly through class -- most of the time, at least.

"If someone was talking and was going on for too long, Skeeter would let that person know and start groaning and making a lot of noise. We felt the same thing," she joked.

When Jones, who concentrated in business consulting, takes the bar exam in February, Skeeter will likely be right by her side, ready to retrieve any pencil that strays from her desk.

Skeeter became known over time at Baylor's law school, which had a graduating class of 400 this year. Even the dean of the school, Brad Toben, extended special privileges to the Skeeter, allowing him to "pal around in his office," Jones recalled.

One professor once offered to automatically pass her on an exam if she let him take Skeeter home. Even though the duo has graduated, the faculty's attachment to Skeeter holds steady.

Another professor will watch Skeeter for a week in January, when Jones goes on a cruise, a graduation present from her parents.

Toben reportedly called Skeeter a "special friend" at the commencement ceremony, while remarking that Jones, too, was a "bright light passing through" the school's walls.

"Amy has busted through brick walls, and Skeeter has been faithfully by her side every step of the way," Toben said at the commencement ceremony, as reported by The Associated Press.

"Skeeter has become a part of our community and a part of our family here at the law school," he continued.

Jones says she had heard speculation that Skeeter might be honored at graduation in some form, but was pleasantly surprised by the formal recognition he received. He deserves it as much as any other hard working student, after all.

"He trudged up those steps every day, and I'm sure there were days he didn't want to go as much as me," she said.

"A lot of times, people only respect him for the legal reason that he has access to wherever," Jones said of the typical lukewarm reception service animals can receive. "It was great to see how he actually became a part of our class, and how much he has meant to people."

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