An American University had a special graduate during their 2020 online graduation ceremony recently, a dog.
The Labrador retriever, an 8-year-old therapy dog at the Virginia Tech’s College of Veterinary Medicine received an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine last week.
Moose, who has been with Virginia Tech since 2014, is one of the school’s four therapy animals and ambassadors for mental health awareness.
As reported by CNN, along with attending football games, club events, and new student orientations, Moose also helps students cope with anxiety, trauma and other mental health issues.
The fluffy pup has helped thousands of students and assisted in more than 7,500 counseling sessions, according to his owner, licensed counselor Trent Davis.
Davis, who has worked at the Cook Counseling Center for 10 years, launched the school’s animal-assisted therapy program to provide students with another form of comfort.
Moose has also faced challenges of his own. A week after his birthday in February, Davis noticed blood in Moose’s urine. He was later diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent radiation treatments.
