Nessie, or Rooster are sometimes available for outreach events on campus. If you are interested in scheduling Nessie, or Rooster for an event on campus, please call the counseling center at (334) 844-5123 to check for availability. Request to speak with Dr. Hankes for scheduling opportunities.
Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS) offers Animal Assisted Therapy services. Our first therapy dog, Moose, joined SCPS during the summer of 2015. Our second therapy dog, Nessie, joined SCPS during the summer of 2019. Rooster joined us in 2021.
Dr. Moose, Auburn University’s beloved therapy dog, passed away recently after a hard-fought battle with osteosarcoma.
Nessie, Rooster, Winston, and Eve are available to work with students by joining individual sessions, group sessions, and through campus outreach events. Below are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Get Mov’in and the Camp War Eagle Parent Run
During the Spring 2025 Semester, join Dr.s Nessie, Rooster, Winston and Eve on Mondays at 8 am for “Get Mov’in”…..a 2-3-mile walk around the Auburn campus. You can find the Dogtors and a couple of their Student Counseling & Psychological Services handlers outside the Melton Student Center next to the Aubie statute. The Dogtors know that exercise positively affects mental health. When Dogtors are mov’in, they are happy, tail wagging dogs.
Join us on the CWE Parent Run, a three-mile running and two-mile walking tour of campus with other Auburn University faculty and staff members during each of the Camp War Eagle sessions. The Dogtors also usually participate. SCPS staff are shown with Rooster at the 25th Anniversary of the CWE Parent Run.
The run and walk occur on the second morning of each Camp War Eagle session and starts at 6:00 am in front of the Auburn Recreation and Wellness Center .
What is Animal Assisted Therapy?
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a form of therapy that incorporates a trained animal into the therapeutic process. Student Counseling & Psychological Services offers AAT with four trained dogs, Nessie, Rooster, Winston, and Eve who have met the certification standards of Therapy Dogs International. The Dogtors are handled by Student Counseling & Psychological Services counselors who have met the appropriate training. Participation in AAT may have many benefits, including improved motivation for treatment and improved social and emotional functioning.
How do I sign up to work with one of the Dogtors?
Nessie, Rooster, Winston, and Eve are available to join sessions for clients at SCPS. If you are interested in having one of the Dogtors join your counseling session, discuss this interest with your counselor. Together, you and your counselor can decide if adding Nessie, Rooster, Winston, or Eve to your sessions would be beneficial. You will be asked to sign a release before you can have one of the Dogtors join your counseling sessions. Students under the age of 19 will have to get this release signed by a parent or guardian.
How often can the Dogtors be in sessions?
If you and your counselor determine that AAT would be beneficial, Nessie, Rooster, Winston, or Eve will be able to join your sessions as they are available. Appointments with the Dogtors are booked in advance, but if they aren’t feeling well or are otherwise unavailable, they may not be able to join your session.
The Dogtors are rarely off leash at SCPS and are kept out of common areas like the lobby. Nessie, Rooster, Winston, and Eve sometimes spend time behind the front desk or in counselor’s offices, so please be aware you may see them as you check in or walk to your counselor’s office. If you have concerns about the Dogtors being at SCPS while you visit, please let our front office staff or your counselor know, so we can make every effort to make your visit to SCPS comfortable.
Questions or concerns about AAT with Nessie, Rooster, Winston, or Eve?
Contact Dr. Hankes at (334) 844-5123.