Four-legged therapist

It takes the right temperament and training to be a good therapist. Fortunately, Cito has both.

"If you could just see the look on our patients' faces when he comes in; it's joy. They're excited to work with him," said Theresita Heaggans, CTRS, a recreational therapist with the Rehab Results Group at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur.

Cito is a purebred, 5-year-old German shepherd and a certified therapy dog who provides alternative therapy for patients at DeKalb Medical Center and at nursing homes.

"Animal therapy is a different kind of intervention that many people respond to because it is less threatening. It doesn't replace traditional exercises and other therapies, but it enhances them," Heaggans said.

Before trying the canine therapy, Heaggans evaluates patients to make sure that they aren't allergic or afraid to work with an animal.

"You don't have to teach dogs about responding to people. They are more in tune with other people's energy than we'll ever be, and they do it by instinct," said Iris Grimm, certified animal therapist coordinator and Cito's owner. "If he knew how to drive the car, I wouldn't even have to go."

Cito had already received obedience training, but, after Grimm discovered Therapy Dogs Inc., she put him through two months of additional training. To become certified, Cito passed a series of behavioral and obedience tests.

Any canine may become a therapy dog, but some breeds are better suited to the role, Grimm said. A therapy dog has to be sociable, obedient and not easily excited.

Like a seasoned performer, Cito knows how to play to the crowd.

"When I put the vest on him, he knows what he has to do, and he's happy to do it," Grimm said.

First, the two perform a few tricks to loosen up the crowd. If someone needs help learning to walk again after an operation, a stroke or a heart attack, Grimm puts the dog on two leashes — one for her and one for the patient — and they walk with Cito between them.

"One gentleman who was supposed to walk one round did three without stumbling once, because he was focusing on walking with the dog," Grimm said.

Patients who need to increase their upper-body strength may throw bean bags for Cito to fetch, or the dog may sit quietly next to a patient in a wheelchair who can practice motor skills by stroking him.

"Working with an animal increases patients' motivation. They get a boost of determination that they can do it and that there's hope," Heaggans said.

American Heart Association research has shown that animal therapy reduces stress in cardiac patients and lowers their blood pressures. They respond better because Cito is a dog, Grimm believes.

"Dogs don't have to say or do anything. Just looking into their eyes makes you feel calmer," she said.

Grimm has seen patients get so focused on interacting with Cito that they overcome their inhibitions and push through their limitations.

"For a short while, they're smiling and forget their pain. That is what well-being is all about," she said.

Grimm, who volunteers her and Cito's time about once a week, gets as much pleasure from the interactions as the patients and dog do.

"I love to see his gentle soul working," she said.