Australian Labradoodle Dog named Tori

As pet lovers worldwide know, pet dogs give us unconditional love. If we've had a challenging day we know we can go home and receive a warm welcome from our beloved pets. An Australian Labradoodle named Tori is extending that unconditional love in the name of duty - animal-assisted therapy duty.

Cancer Patient's Face Lights Up at Sight of Labradoodle Dog

According to Beth Kramer of suburbanchicagonews.com, "Linda Seymour's face lit up when 1 year old Tori visited her while she was undergoing chemotherapy. Tori is the Cancer Treatment Centres of America's new therapy dog that makes patient rounds four days a week.

"It means a lot to me - she's so pleasant. I know she brings a smile to the patients," Seymour said. "She's a loveable dog."

"Seymour of Jacksonville said she is a dog lover and enjoys the opportunity to interact with a dog.

"Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure and depression and foster a home-like atmosphere, said Cynthia Ingram, animal therapy coordinator and registered nurse.

"Patients and staff enjoy interacting with her," she said.

In fact, Ingram said she has to allow extra time to get around the hospital because staff, patients and visitors alike coo over Tori and want to pet her.

"That's a good thing. It keeps the place warm," Ingram said.

Tori was donated by a patient who runs a dog-training facility in Texas. The dog arrived in January 2008. Ingram trained with her for 10 months in obedience training to be certified as a therapy dog through the National Delta Society and complete the canine good- service program.

Since animal-assisted therapy is a pilot program, Tori is the only service animal at CTCA currently.

Tori and Ingram make their patient rounds Mondays through Thursdays. Ingram checks patients' charts first to ensure their immune systems can handle a visit. She also keeps hand sanitizer handy to help keep the patients germ-free.

Tori also goes to the vet every six months to make sure she's healthy and not carrying any potential risks for patients.

"We're cautious. We want to make sure she's good, and so are our patients," Ingram said.

When she's not at CTCA, Tori lives with Ingram. Although Tori is gentle and quiet when she's with patients, Ingram described her as "very playful" and that she goes right after her toys.

Tammy James of Waukegan is a cancer survivor and pastoral employee at CTCA. When she was admitted as a CTCA patient in 2006, dog therapy had not been introduced at the hospital, but she has a Shih Tzu-mix puppy at home.

James said having a dog around provides companionship and is a source of unconditional love. She added that having a dog can remind people of home.

She sees Tori every day and said she likes telling her what her own dog, Bella, is up to.

"A lot of the patients find comfort in having Tori there. She's like a celebrity here," James said."

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