A dog’s life: eat, sleep and soak up the adoring attention of children. Unless, of course, that dog is an adorable 2-year-old golden retriever named Ricochet, the surfing wonder dog. After a display of surfing prowess at a dog surf competition (they do have those you know), Ricochet‘s career as a “SURFice dog® ” took hold. Now she helps disabled kids in her own unique way and while at it, exemplifies what it means to Paw it Forward. (Warning: this post is full of puppy related puns and cute alliteration.)
As a young service dog in training, Ricochet had a big heart, but unfortunately, an even bigger penchant for chasing birds. Knowing her dog was soon to have the lives of other’s resting in her furry little paws, Ricochet’s owner and trainer, Judy Fridono, had some decisions to make.
Playing to Her Strengths
Deciding to focus on what Ricochet could do well, Fridono concentrated on her dog’s exceptional balance and coordination. As part of her previous training, at the age of only eight weeks, Ricochet had ridden a boogie board in a paddling pool and had been particularly good. As Ricochet’s future as a dependable service dog looked increasingly grim, Fridono decided to up the ante, and led her dog to open water. Before long, Ricochet was ready to be carried by a wave — one destined for greater things.
Fridono explains to Tonic, Ricochet’s progress this way: “She was in the ocean surfing for just a couple times before she was invited to the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Contest, and won 3rd place.” After this, Ricochet was formally released from the service program, and resurrected into her new role, that of SURFice dog® a title given to her by Puppy Prodigies, the dog training center in San Diego where her training began. Ricochet’s initiative Surfin’ for Paws-abilities was soon created and it wasn’t long before she found someone who needed her help in the adaptive surfing community.
A Stabilizing force
Ricochet’s first fundraiser was for a young quadriplegic surfer, 16-year-old Patrick Ivison who was run over by a car when he was just 14 months old. In the summer of 2009, Ricochet not only surfed with Patrick but also raised over $10,000 to help with his care. Fridono tells Tonic, “They rode a few waves in on their separate boards, side by side. One time when they rode in, and reached the beach, Ricochet jumped off her board, and onto Patrick’s. So, I said ‘Oh she wants to surf tandem with you Patrick’. So, we got a bigger board, and they rode without incident to the shore, as if they had been surfing tandem together forever.”
Ricochet apparently counter balances the board trying to keep Patrick from falling off. Totally committed to Patrick’s needs, he is right there by his side should he fall. A video of Ricochet’s journey with Patrick went viral on YouTube garnering both quite a bit of unexpected attention.
On dry land, Ricochet is a catalyst, bringing people together and raising awareness as well as funds for those in need. Fridono explains the Ricochet phenomenon, “There is something about Ricochet that motivates and inspires people to be the best they can be. They want to be part of her fundraisers, and life.” She has almost 12,000 fans on Facebook, and they are incredibly supportive, and continuously donate to her causes. Others she’s helped include 6-year-old, Ian McFarland who was left brain damaged by a car accident that killed both his parents. Ian used to surf with his Dad in and eventually returned to the board, encouraged by Ricochet’s support. Not only that, but he helped raise funds to pay for Ian’s rehabilitation. (Watch video below of Ian and Ricochet tandem surfing).
Most recently, this wonder dog assisted Finnley, a little girl born with brain damage, by raising funds for an $11,000 therapy pool. Ricochet also looks after her own; this month she participated in two events, the Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon raising awareness for orphaned animals and Surfin’ to Chase Away K9 Cancer. She recently received the 2010 American Kennel Club Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence in the category of Exemplary Companion Dog.
On her website, Ricochet says, “My objective is to be the catalyst that motivates and inspires others to focus on the can do’s in life while letting go of expectations, accepting others for who they are, and believing anything is possible.”
Watch Ricochet’s video with Ian:
Pawparazzi shots courtesy of www.Pawmazing.com