“I have the best job ever because I get to cheer people up all day long!” These are the words of Galion, a therapy dog at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. With the help of a clever voice-over to narrate his routine, Galion takes viewers on a trip through the rehab center where he helps patients who have spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries with their therapy.
“Working face to face with patients every day really makes a difference,” says Galion. Sometimes he playfully interacts with patients to help them with balance and muscle strength and coordination. Other times he lays quietly on a lap while a patient exercises his fingers in the form of a head massage for Galion! “I’m always available to help patients with therapy and to keep them motivated,” he says. “Getting them to be as mobile as possible is what I’m all about!”
And when he’s not working with patients, Galion can be found with his owner, helping her do things like getting objects that are hard to reach, or pushing the button to open wheelchair accessible doors.