Photo of Graduate and Guide Dog in Cap and Gown Goes Viral

It’s graduation season, so photos of people dressed in their caps and gowns are being shared all over the place. One particular photo has gone viral because it’s so heartwarming. It’s a photo of a woman and her service dog in matching graduation attire. The image was posted on the site Reddit and features the graduate and her dog, Hero on the side of the stage during commencement ceremonies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this past weekend. They received her diploma together.

It was reshared multiple times and was the subject of multiple comments.

"The girl and the dog received the loudest applause hands down. Very adorable," commented tcjones54.
"You and your dog are my here!" said AndreThreeHundred.
"He's perfectly named. Congratulations to both of you!" said sracer4095. The following day the woman known as f3b14 on Reddit.com posted the more posed photo of her and Hero.

And she shared some details about the ceremony:

“(Hero) loved it! He loved all the attention too! When we were walking outside to reunite with my family, we were stopped every 10 feet for pictures by random people that loved his cap and gown! He was like a celebrity! I think he realized it was a special day!”

She also shared some details about Hero:

“Hero knows over forty commands to assist me! He loves to retrieve objects for (me) like envelopes, pens, my crutches, etc. He also turns off the lights, opens doors, and he pulls me in my wheelchair up ramps! I couldn't have gone to college without him!”

Congratulations to f3b14 on obtaining her Master’s degree and to Hero for being such a hero in helping her get it.