LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Thousands of students walked the stage this weekend at Texas Tech University, including one on four legs.
A graduate and her service dog were handed their diplomas in a now-viral moment. Makaela Muse and Sadie crossed the stage together after years of teamwork, each being rewarded for a job well done.
“They took a moment that was going to be special anyways and made it so much more special than I ever could have imagined,” Muse said.
Muse has been with Sadie since she was only weeks old.
“She was honestly just supposed to be a pet originally,” Muse said.
But one day on campus, that all changed.
“I actually passed out in my very first animal dissection lab, and we hadn’t even gotten to the fun bits yet,” Muse said.
After years of being misdiagnosed, doctors discovered Makaela had two rare health conditions.
“Basically, between the two of them, my hormones are always going up and down, and that’s primarily her job, is to help me manage that,” Muse said.
Sadie became more than just a friend, always ready to alert Makaela to any changes in her body. As Makaela earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences, Sadie was there every step of the way.
“She’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly,” Muse said.
When Texas Tech and President Lawrence Schovenec surprised Sadie with her own diploma, the crowd loved it, and so did hundreds of thousands of people online. The moment went viral on Texas Tech’s Instagram page and ESPN’s TikTok. Harvard commented on Sadie’s “dogtorate.”
Muse, a self-proclaimed introvert, wasn’t sure how to handle the newfound fame.
“Shock, a little bit of panic, some, what am I supposed to do now?” Muse said.
While it’s captured the attention of people across the globe, only Makaela truly knows what the moment was worth.
“Like you deserve it too, because she went to just about every class and lab and every late night study session. People don’t understand that they are literally our lifelines,” Muse said.
As she starts applying to veterinary schools and hopes to end up back at Texas Tech, Makaela knows she won’t be alone.
“There is no Makaela without Sadie, we’re a packaged deal at this point,” Muse said.
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