It's 9 a.m. and participants at the Maluhia Adult Day Health Center are congregating in the recreation room to sing songs. Abby, a 9-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, strolls in, to the delight of everyone. As a regular, she knows her way around and greets each person happily in exchange for a pat on the head.

Ronald Moniz welcomes Abby with a big smile.

"She's the only happy employee on Monday morning," says her owner, Dr. Al Yazawa. Yazawa is the medical director for the O'ahu region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. and practices geriatric medicine at both Maluhia and Leahi hospitals. "In the mornings, she jumps in the car and is always ready to go to work."

As a puppy, Abby was trained at Hawaii Canines for Independence on Maui for a year. Her intended job was to assist a wheelchair patient. After being diagnosed with hip dysplasia, Abby was donated as a facility dog to Kula Hospital. Yazawa was the medical director there. He underwent six weeks of training at HCI to learn how to handle Abby and took over responsibility for her care.

Four years ago, Yazawa moved to O'ahu and brought Abby with him. Now each weekday, Abby goes to work with him, bringing laughter and fun to the long-term-care patients and day health participants at Maluhia and Leahi hospitals.

Abby is part social director because she makes sure everyone is wearing a smile. "It has helped with patients who don't like coming here," says Yazawa.

Throughout the day, Abby meanders through the ward, stopping for a rub on the head, before moving on to the next area. Abby is very generous with her love. She gives the nursing staff plenty of attention, too. Through her sweet ways, she's converted cat lover and licensed practical nurse Bonnie Matsumoto into a dog lover.

Abby continues to have a profound impact on everyone. Yazawa says, "We deal with patients with dementia. Sometimes they don't remember their own children or us, the staff they see daily, but they always remember Abby."

The love shared between Abby and the patients is mutual. As much as they enjoy her company, Abby also gets a huge dose of affection back. Abby's a big girl and she likes to lean on people while getting her ears rubbed or back scratched, sometimes even moving the chair the patient is sitting in. But no one seems to mind.

Abby also receives many treats throughout the day. One day a health participant actually buys doggie treats at the store, even though she doesn't have a dog, just so she can feed Abby.

Another participant, Sally Masamune, says, "Abby's really wonderful. She's just like our baby." Then in a lowered tone of voice, but still smiling, "Sometimes we do wrong things, too. Once in a while, we give her things that she shouldn't eat."

All this extra love can go to directly to Abby's waist. Yazawa says, "I weigh her once a week to keep an eye on her weight." The extra pounds are bad for Abby's hip problem. Besides making sure she doesn't gain too much weight, Yazawa gives her glucosamine pills daily.

Jeri Takamiya, program manager of the Maluhia Day Health division, says, "A lot of the patients spend time petting her. Abby will lie down on their feet, so it makes them bend down or move their feet, which is good exercise for them. We also ask them, 'Where is she?' And they'll look for her. All those things add to stimulation for them, mentally and physically. That's a large part of our job of keeping them healthy as long as possible, and Abby plays a role in that!"

Although she can be considered a "senior citizen" too, Yazawa says Abby still acts likes a puppy and has many good years to come. Thank goodness. All her friends would miss her if she wasn't there!