Ricochet is a female golden retriever who was born on January 25, 2008. An ordinary dog with an extraordinary spirit, she is a canine good citizen and a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated. She’s also a certified therapy dog with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and a certified goal-directed therapy dog with Paws’itive Teams.
She’s the only SURFice dog in the world who surfs with people with disabilities, kids with special needs, wounded warriors, and veterans with PTS as an assistive aide.
Ricochet also surfs for fun and competition. She has typically placed as one of the top three winners in the contests she’s entered. She’s tried her paw at stand-up paddleboarding, but also enjoys surfing solo with children, adults, pros, celebrities, other dogs, and even a goat! When she’s not working, she enjoys dock jumping, lure coursing, and chasing squirrels and birds.
Ricochet has held more than fifty fund-raisers and raised more than $300,000, which benefited more than 150 human and animal causes. She’s also held campaigns to help feed homeless animals, which have resulted in more than 1 million bowls of food being donated.
She’s won several fund-raising awards and top dog awards, including the AKC Award for Canine Excellence, the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Award, and the ASPCA’s Dog of the Year (see the Resources page for a full list).
Ricochet is an advocate for antibullying in schools. She offers comfort, support, and acceptance, empowering kids to be their authentic selves.
Ricochet is living proof that if you let go of your expectations, and let others be who they truly are, things may turn out better than you could have ever imagined. She would like to remind people that if they are caring for a dog, a cat, or any other animal (or human being), please give them a chance! Give yourself a chance: live your life true to yourself and not the life others expect of you.
If Ricochet can influence one child, change one mind, or save one life, she will have accomplished what she’s on this earth to do. Visit Ricochet at the following:
Email pawinspired@aol.com
Ricochet’s Web site www.surfdogricochet.com
Ricochet’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SurfDogRicochet
Ricochet’s Twitter https://twitter.com/SurfDogRicochet
Ricochet’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/docchat
SURFice Dog Video http://youtu.be/BGODurRfVv4
Various Videos of Ricochet in Action http://www.surfdogricochet.com/ricochets-book.html
Ricochet’s Fund-raisers www.surfdogricochet.com/donors--beneficiaries.html
Puppy Prodigies www.puppyprodigies.org