Moose, Virginia Tech’s Therapy Dog, Dies After Battle with Prostate Cancer
Moose, Virginia Tech’s Therapy Dog Who Holds an Honorary Doctorate, Dies of Prostate Cancer A declaration on his Instagram page stated Moose “shed his battle with prostate cancer cells on December 2nd”
By Gabrielle Chung December 03, 2020 06:12 PM Image zoom
Moose the canine|Credit: Virginia Tech Moose, a therapy canine at Virginia Tech who received an honorary doctorate from the school earlier this year, has actually passed away at the age of 8.
“With gratitude and also unhappiness, we let our Hokie friends understand that our cherished Therapy Dog Moose, who won our hearts, shed his fight with prostate cancer on December 2nd,” a declaration shared on his official Instagram web page checks out. “Moose was calm and also comfy in the house in the arms of his loving family and his pet brother, Derek.”
“Moose was existing in thousands of individual and also group treatment sessions. He was a happy enhancement to thousands much more outreaches and occasions throughout university.
Birthed on Feb. 13, 2012, Moose was raised by New York'’s Guiding Eyes for the Blind to be an overview pet.
However, as a result of a minor clinical problem discovered during his official training, the Labrador retriever was released from the program as well as taken on by Dr. Trent Davis, a certified therapist, in 2013 to function as a full time treatment pet at Virginia Tech.
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Moose the pet (facility)|Credit History: Virginia Tech RELATED: Therapy Dog Brings Joy to Emergency Room Workers Fighting Coronavirus at Denver Hospital
He was just one of the university'’s 4 therapy animals and ambassadors for psychological wellness awareness at the university'’s Cook Counseling Center.
For many years, Moose ended up being somewhat of an icon on school, frequently showing up at college occasions such as positioning, homecoming, college graduation and Gobblerfest.
The puppy was called Virginia Veterinary Medical Association'’s animal hero in 2019, according to his account on Virginia Tech'’s website.
In February, Moose was diagnosed with prostate cancer cells was treated by vets at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, a joint endeavor of Virginia Tech as well as the University of Maryland at College Park. He remained to function during his chemotherapy therapies, even holding digital workplace hrs for pupils amid the continuous coronavirus pandemic.
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For his devoted solution, Moose obtained an honorary doctorate in veterinary medication from Virginia Tech'’s College of Veterinary Medicine in May.
“The students right here yap about just how Moose has actually broken down the stigma around psychological healthcare on school,” Davis informed CNN earlier this year. “Veterinarians are however an extremely tested population. They have high rates of suicide, and this occupation can be rather troubling. He has actually really aided the students and also staff at Virginia Tech and has gotten a great deal of acknowledgment for that.”
Davis added that watching Moose do his work had been an unbelievably satisfying experience.
“I'’ll frequently fulfill individuals and they'’ll be petting him, as well as all of a sudden they'’re on the ground, chatting in a child voice,” he stated. “So when people ask, '’ How does this pet dog therapy point work?'’ I'’m like kind of like … I have actually never satisfied you before and now you'’re sitting one foot far from me chatting and also petting the pet to me about the significance of life.”
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