Kapiolani Medical Center celebrates birthday of ‘chief canine officer’

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children celebrated their four-legged employee this week.

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Ruby, the hospital’s beloved Labrador retriever, is the chief canine officer at Kapiolani Medical Center. She turned eight years old.

She has been a fulltime hospital facility dog since 2021, when she was just two years old, according to the medical center.

Ruby was chosen for her gentle, cuddly personality and how well she gets along with children.

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Ruby makes her daily rounds with the keiki, visiting about five to 10 pediatric patients every day.

She knows more than 90 commands.

Animal-assisted therapy has been proven to help reduce stress and distract children through their medical challenges.

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Ruby was trained and donated by Assistance Dogs of Hawaii.