Rufio, beloved UChicago Medicine therapy dog and Instagram star, retires at age 10

Video Transcript

Today is a great day here at UChicago Medicine. We are celebrating one of our pet therapy dogs, Rufio. He is retiring, but we are very, very thankful and grateful for all of his services throughout the years here. Our patients, family, and staff had gathered here today to really celebrate the volunteerism that he had provided to us here at UChicago Medicine.

They interacted with him for one last time. They were able to give Rufio treats and gifts to take home. One of the programs that we provide here within volunteer services is pet therapy. Pet therapy allows us to improve the patient experience. Within our pet therapy programs, our volunteers, both pet handlers and our dog, are able to provide comfort and care to our patients here.

Once our patients are able to leave the room, they're able to come into one of our sessions and be able to come and play, pet with our dogs. This not only creates a welcoming environment to our patients, but also to our staff. Pets like Rufio really make a difference to the lives of our patients and family here at UChicago Medicine.

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It was a special sendoff for a very good boy.

Rufio, the beloved therapy dog who visited countless cancer patients for the past 5 years at the University of Chicago Medical Center, retired Nov. 11.

To thank the 10-year-old Golden Retriever and his owner, Rebecca Mo, a retirement party was held at the Hyde Park hospital. The event featured tennis balls, personalized dog treats and lots of loving pats from the staff and patients.

For the guest of honor, the celebration was similar to his typical rounds. Rufio greeted each person in the room and lovingly leaned his head into their leg. He later stood alongside the wheelchairs of two cancer patients, who petted him, played fetch and handed him treats after he “gave paw.” He posed for dozens of photos and even demonstrated a few tricks.

A young man in a wheelchair wearing a hospital gown shakes the paw of a golden retriever wearing a Therapy Dog vest — Rufio gives a paw to University of Chicago Medicine cancer patient Matthew Roque, 23, of Crown Point, Indiana.

“This lifted up my spirits so much — it was awesome,” said colon cancer patient Matthew Roque, 23, of Crown Point, Indiana, who has been in the hospital for two weeks and was missing his own dog. “It did wonders.”

As Rufio left the hospital for the final time, staff members lined the hallway and applauded.

Pet therapy program looks to expand

Rufio was one of just two dogs in UChicago Medicine’s pet therapy program, which is now looking to expand its roster. The animals require training and their handlers must follow strict guidelines, but the therapeutic benefits for patients and their loved ones are big, said Volunteer Services Manager Erica Luciano.

“The patients who have cancer and can’t see their pets, or who can no longer have pets, it means so much to them,” added hospital volunteer Kathryn Guo. “It makes them so happy.”

An elderly person in a hospital gown pets a golden retriever wearing a Therapy Dog vest — Patient Bobbie Hairl, 77, of Chicago, pets Rufio, the therapy dog, during his retirement party Nov. 11 at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Famous since puppyhood

When Rufio was a puppy, he always licked people’s faces and cozied up to them, Mo said.

“They’d say to me, ‘Oh, that just made my day better.’ That’s when I decided to get him certified as a therapy dog,” she said.

Months later, Rufio unexpectedly became a social media sensation after a video of him refusing to leave his favorite pet store went viral and was picked up by a few national news outlets. He now has more than 219,000 Instagram followers.

“Putting pictures of him on Instagram was just something I did for fun, but then it just took off,” Mo said. “He’s really such a good boy.”

A group of 10 people pose with a golden retriever wearing a Therapy Dog vest — Rufio posed for photos with many of the UChicago Medicine hospital staff during his retirement party.

To learn more about UChicago Medicine's pet therapy program or find out how you can get involved, visit Volunteer Services or call 773-702-4421.