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

Chicago, IL – Rufio, the beloved Golden Retriever who brought comfort to cancer patients for years, officially retired from his role as a therapy dog on November 11.

After five years of visiting patients at the University of Chicago Medical Center, the 10-year-old dog was honored with a special retirement celebration at the hospital. The event featured tennis balls, treats, and plenty of affection from staff and patients. Rufio spent his final moments greeting everyone, playing fetch, and posing for photos, spreading joy to all—especially those missing their own pets.

Rufio’s journey as a therapy dog began when his owner, Rebecca Mo, noticed how his affectionate behavior consistently brightened people’s days. His popularity soared after a viral video of him refusing to leave a pet store, leading to over 219,000 Instagram followers.

Source: uchicagomedicine.org

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