Congratulate Moose, the therapy pooch, who just got an honorary dogtorate degree

This year Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has granted an unusual candidate an honorary doctorate. What are your thoughts on this new Dogtor?

Published on: May 19, 2020, 19:19:35 IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Sanya Budhiraja

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It is that time of the year again when students are moving the tassel towards the left and throwing their black caps up in the air to mark their graduation from higher education institutions. This year Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has granted an unusual candidate an honorary doctorate. Or should we say, dogtorate?

Meet Moose, a therapy doggo, who has been part of the Virginia Tech family since 2014. (Instagram/@vttherapydogs)

Meet Moose, a therapy doggo, who has been part of the Virginia Tech family since 2014. A post shared on the canine’s very own Instagram on May 16 shed light on how he has become an indispensable part of the institution by working with programs that help better hooman mental health. The caption of the image stated that the pooch “has participated in more than 7,500 individual and group counselling sessions and has completed countless hours of outreach”. It also detailed how Moose would receive his degree from Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine during the virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2020.

This cute share garnered almost 1,200 likes.

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Beloved Virginia Tech therapy dog Moose to earn honorary doctorate*! (see bio for link) Dr. Moose Davis ♥ ♥ ♥ Moose has served faithfully as a full-time therapy dog with Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center for more than six years. Born and raised at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, Moose was adopted by Dr. Trent Davis, a counselor and coordinator of the university’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program. Named the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s 2019 animal hero for his service, Moose helps reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. Familiar figures on the Virginia Tech and veterinary college campuses, Drs. Moose and Trent have participated in more than 7500 individual and group counseling sessions and have completed countless hours of outreach. Thank you for being you, Moose. *Moose will receive his degree at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine virtual commencement tonight at 7:30 (Photo courtesy of WDBJ7) @virginia.tech @vamdvetmed @studentsatvt @cookcounselingcenter @vtrecsports @hokiewellness @hokiesports @servicedogsva @guidingeyes @camilleschrier @the_hokiebird @vtgrowley #hokies @hokiepets #HokieGrad #VetMed2020 @vtcals #iamVTCALS @vt_engineering @vtcorpsofcadets @vt_liberalarts @vtpamplin @vt_science @vtcaus @vtcsom @vtlibraries @vt_cnre @wdbj7

A post shared by Moose, Derek, Wagner & Carson (@vttherapydogs) on May 15, 2020 at 9:48am PDT

Just yesterday, May 18, Moose shared his feeling about the whole graduation experience in another Instagram post which accumulated over 1,500 likes.

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Moose is so happy to serve the Hokie Nation, sharing smiles, tail wags, and his calming presence. On Friday, he humbly accepted an honorary doctorate from @vamdvetmed. We often say that we will never know Moose’s full impact. He is beloved by so many. The story of his DOG-torate has been making a splash nationally and internationally, and we are thrilled to know that Moose’s story is bringing hope and smiles to people all over the world. Moose leads his junior colleagues, Wagner, Derek, and Carson as the therapy dog team continues to serve at VT. #utprosim . Congratulations, Dr. Moose! See links in bio. @virginia.tech @vtmdvetmed @studentsatvt @cookcounselingcenter @vtrecsports @hokiewellness @hokiesports @servicedogsva @guidingeyes @camilleschrier @the_hokiebird @vtgrowley #hokies @hokiepets @huffpost @goodmorningamerica @hodakotb @todayshow @latenightseth @fallontonight @theellenshow @colbertlateshow

A post shared by Moose, Derek, Wagner & Carson (@vttherapydogs) on May 17, 2020 at 8:29am PDT

Here is how netizens reacted to this educated doggo who is advocating for better mental health. One person on the photo-sharing application said, “This page is gold”. Whilst another wrote, “Congratulations Moose!! You deserve your dogploma”. We couldn’t agree more.

“Great job Moose, I know by looking at that face that he helped so many,” read one comment on the post. Truly, don’t you think Moose just has one of those ‘calming’ faces?

It is so good to see this doggo get celebrated for all the strides he is making in bettering mental health awareness for people in higher education. What are your thoughts on this new Dogtor?

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