"Everything Dogtors"

On Auburn University’s campus, not all heroes walk on two feet. Sometimes, they come with four paws, a cold nose and a warm heart.

“They’ve got all the credentials,” said Dr. Doug Hankes, who heads up the university’s animal assisted therapy program, appropriately nicknamed the Dogtors.

That program plays an instrumental role in Auburn’s Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS) – a department in student affairs serving as the primary mental health counseling center for undergraduate and graduate students.

SCPS’s four-legged team of Dogtors, including Dr. Rooster, Dr. Nessie, Dr. Eve and Dr. Winston, can often be found spreading joy to students across campus, rescuing them from the stress that often comes with college life.

“We currently have four Dogtors on staff,” said Hankes. “Three of them are retired detection dogs.”

In collaboration with SCPS, the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Canine Performance Sciences team re-trained the three dogs to become therapy dogs and donated them to SCPS.

Now retired from their days of sniffing out danger, the Dogtors have redirected their keen noses to providing comfort through group and individual therapy sessions with students.

“We call them our mental health ambassadors,” explained Hankes.

Hankes is finishing his 27th year on the Plains. He graduated from Auburn with his bachelor’s in physical education before heading to the University of Texas to complete his master’s in sports psychology. He completed his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of North Texas in 1996. After a stint at the University of Tennessee, Hankes returned to Auburn in 1998. For the past 20 years, Hankes has been the executive director of SCPS. He also serves as Auburn Athletics' executive director of counseling and sport psychology.

Hankes has seen firsthand the remarkable expansion of on-campus mental health services. Today, there are more than 30 mental health care professionals on staff at SCPS.

“How we've grown is just a tribute to our administrators who realized we need to take care of Auburn students and their mental health,” Hankes said.

With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month, Hankes and his team of Dogtors will be hitting the ground running. This month, they’ll kick off their Camp War Eagle Parent Run and Walk campus tours, welcoming hundreds of incoming freshmen parents. SCPS will continue hosting their Get Moov’in Walks twice weekly during Fall and Spring semesters. The Dogtors will also be on hand at many mental health awareness events throughout the year, promoting the benefits of good self-care.

For Hankes the most rewarding part of his and the Dogtors’ job is seeing students heal and thrive.

“It's the best job ever,” he said. “You get to see people change. You get to see people get better."

SCPS has two locations on campus: in the AU Medical Clinic and and in Haley Center. Students can walk-in any time and be seen. There is no charge for any of their services. Dogtors are at both locations, always ready to greet visitors with a firm tail-wag. 

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, it's crucial to seek immediate help. Visit the SPCS website or call the counseling center at [phone].

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