Moose, a Virginia Tech therapy dog that received an honorary doctorate, died at the age of eight. The much-loved dog succumbed to prostate cancer. The Instagram post that announced his passing said that he died peacefully and comfortably at home in the arms of his adoring family.
After Moose’s birth in 2012, he was raised and trained to be a guiding dog by New York’s Guiding Eyes for the Blind. However, the organization was unable to place the Labrador Retriever as a guide dog due to a minor medical condition. The following year, Dr. Trent Davis, a professional psychotherapist, adopted him to work as a full-time therapy dog at Virginia Tech.
According to Davis, Moose was the dog of a lifetime for him. The incredible bond they shared was crucial to both their relationship and work. He added that his example of living in calmness, nonjudgment, and unconditional love is one of the many lessons he had taught him.
Moose was one of the mental health ambassadors and therapy animals at the Cook Counseling Center. He became a campus icon over time, frequently attending school activities.
Moose aided in almost 8,000 counseling sessions during his seven years at Virginia Tech. He also assisted in over 500 outreach events. The dog became a certified campus celebrity because of all the work he had done.
In February, Davis found out that Moose had prostate cancer. The devoted pup still continued to report to work even when he was struggling while undergoing chemotherapy. In recognition of his hard work and selflessness, the school awarded him an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine.
Veterinary college dean M. Daniel Givens said Moose was responsible for so much healing and joy amid sadness for many students and staff at the school. He went on to say that the therapy dog will be greatly missed.
Credit: Virginia Tech