When Freedom Green walked across the stage at her Ph.D. candidacy ceremony the other day, she knew she’d be receiving a custom white coat to mark the occasion. She had no idea that her mentor and graduate school team had a sweet surprise in store for
the 11-year-old service dog walking alongside her, named Gus Gus.
Green and Gus Gus’ journey first started on Halloween in 2017, when the yellow Lab pup was selected to be her service dog. At the time, Green was recovering from an injury she sustained while serving in the military. And although she felt like her life’s plans had been derailed by the accident, meeting Gus Gus renewed her hope.
“Becoming an Army combat medic at 19 gave me a sense of purpose and helped me imagine a future bigger than anything I’d pictured for myself as a kid, but after I was injured, I felt lost,” Green told The Dodo. “Then Gus Gus picked me. [We] haven’t spent a night apart since.”
With Gus Gus by her side, Green was able to reimagine her future and start chasing after her dreams again. His “calm and affectionate” nature helped heal Green emotionally. And his presence allowed her to live more independently, which gave her the chance to pursue the education she’d always wanted.
The duo eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in Texas together, then went off to England to complete the master of research program at Imperial College London. After receiving their master’s degree, Green and Gus Gus returned to Texas and enrolled in Baylor College’s medical scientist training program (M.D./Ph.D.). It was an exhausting feat, but one Green didn’t take for granted.
“[Gus Gus’] support has helped make an education I once could only hope for possible,” Green said.
While striving towards a higher education can be daunting for anyone, Green’s experience as a student with a service dog felt nearly impossible at times. But with Gus Gus by her side, she never lost hope.
“We’ve faced exclusion from training spaces, unclear accommodation processes and doubts about whether we belonged in STEM at all,” Green said. “Over the years, people have even tried to convince me that this journey was hard because of Gus Gus, but I knew in my heart they had it backward. It would have been impossible without him.”
Gus Gus happily accompanied Green on every step of her educational journey. So, when it came time to commemorate her Ph.D. candidacy with a white coat ceremony on stage, she knew she’d bring him up with her. But it wasn’t until she saw her mentor, Dr. Tori Baxter, pull a white bandana out of her pocket that Green realized Gus Gus was being recognized, too.
Green had just slipped on her white coat after shaking the faculty’s hands when she saw Dr. Baxter bend down and tie a white bandana around Gus Gus’ neck. The pup’s bandana nearly matched Green’s coat, but his had “Gus Gus Dog Candidate” embroidered on in red.
“My first thought was, ‘How did they know he loves bandanas?!’” Green said. “Then it sank in that they had planned that moment just for him.”
You can watch that moment here:
And even though he was technically on the job, Gus Gus almost couldn’t contain his excitement while receiving a gift from one of his favorite people.
“[He] did his best to play it cool. He stayed seated where I asked him to, looking very professional, but his little tail wags gave him away,” Green said. “He absolutely adores Dr. Baxter, who’s always careful to respect his focus while he’s working, so getting some special attention from her was a real treat.”
It was a momentous occasion all around. And as proud as Green was to have reached this long-awaited goal, she was more overcome with emotion over having her relationship with Gus Gus be honored after years of arduous work.
“So much of what Gus Gus does for me happens quietly, in the everyday things that make it possible for me to pursue my education,” Green said. “Seeing that contribution recognized so publicly meant the world to me.”
Green and Gus Gus went home that night with two special pieces of clothing to add to their wardrobe. And while Gus Gus has a box filled with handkerchiefs that he usually picks from each day, the one he received on stage is already his favorite.
The two are now working on finishing the second half of the medical scientist training program, and they’re already looking forward to attending their graduation ceremony together in a couple of years. As their list of accomplishments grows, Green can’t help but feel grateful for Gus Gus’ puppy raisers at Patriot PAWS, who made this all possible in the first place.
“They gave us much more than the chance to cross a stage together,” Green said. “They gave me a partner who helped me find the confidence to show up, keep going and build a life I love.”
