About Me

Dr. Rustin M. Moore is a distinguished veterinarian, endowed professor, and academic leader with a career spanning four decades in veterinary medicine and animal welfare. Born in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia, he earned his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University, followed by a DVM and PhD from The Ohio State University.

He completed advanced clinical training at the University of Georgia and Ohio State. Dr. Moore has held numerous academic roles, from assistant professor at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine to Dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has authored over 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 20 book chapters, and edited textbooks. He has also mentored 21 doctoral and master’s students and advised over 25 interns and residents.

A passionate advocate for animal health, Dr. Moore has led community outreach and disaster response initiatives, including the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of nearly 500 horses after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He serves on multiple boards and is a sought-after speaker on topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the veterinary field, biodiversity and sustainability, veterinary education, wildlife and zoo animal welfare, the One Health concept, and the human-animal bond.

In his personal life, Dr. Moore enjoys spending time with his husband, James, and their three black miniature schnauzers, Teddy Luther, Travis Lincoln, and Tucker Lewis. He is an avid nature photographer, appreciates the outdoors, relishes in the solitude of long walks, and the distractions of working out at the gym. A sports enthusiast and seasoned traveler having visited six continents, Dr. Moore also takes delight in creative and nonfiction writing including poetry.

About my book, Unleashing the Bond

Unleashing the Bond invites you on a captivating journey into the mystical connection between humans and animals. Forget what you think you know about this feel-good phenomenon; this book dives deeper, peeling back layers to reveal the complex, symbiotic relationship between us and our furry, feathered, and finned friends. Through heartwarming stories, historical insights, and scientific evidence, you'll discover a bond far richer and more intricate than ever imagined.