Meet the surfing therapy dog helping people during the coronavirus pandemic

By MiNDFOOD

Meet the surfing therapy dog helping people during the coronavirus pandemic
Need a furry friend to cheer you up? Ricochet the golden retriever is here to help.

And she’s fully qualified for the job! Ricochet is a certified therapy dog, and she’s available to support loss, reduce anxiety and provide learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ricochet is offering free virtual canine therapy and video conferencing sessions to families who have had the unfathomable experience of not being there when a loved one passed from COVID-19, as well as supporting frontline workers and school children affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  

In most crises, therapy dogs are called upon to provide comfort and healing. But, due to social distancing and quarantine, animal assisted therapy programs have been suspended. 

“At a time when dogs could be truly valuable resources, we’re thinking outside the box in an effort to offer some form of canine therapy to the millions of people around the world who need it,” said Ricochet’s guardian Judy Fridono. 

There are a number of ways to experience Ricochet’s therapy – you can look at calming photos of her adorable face while listening to relaxing music on her website, with eye contact being one of the anxiety-reducing techniques that Ricochet uses in her therapy sessions.

If you need something more personal, the video conferencing is available. Ricochet provides a calm demeanour of comfort and support where a participant’s emotions can be safely released.

Ricochet has many talents – in addition to being a therapy dog, she’s a champion surfer. So even if you’re not in need of her support services, you might enjoy some light relief by watching some of her surfing videos on her website and on social media.

To schedule a free session with Ricochet, send an email to her guardian, Judy Fridono at [email protected]. Or, if time is limited, visit Ricochet’s virtual canine therapy web page. 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

You may also like

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login