Surf Dog Ricochet has crossed over the rainbow bridge after a life filled with helping others. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet//Facebook
Surf Dog Ricochet, the famous surfing therapy dog, has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
“Ricochet has made the journey to Rainbow Bridge,” wrote Judy Fridono, Ricochet’s owner. “My heart is full of sadness and gratitude today. Sad because Ricochet is physically gone, and grateful for the long and triumphant life she lived to the fullest… helping millions along the way.”
When Ricochet was just eight weeks old, the golden retriever was already in service dog training. She was supposed to be a service dog for one person with a disability, but one day in 2009, her real purpose was discovered.
She was also doing balance and coordination training on a boogie board in a kiddie pool, which would eventually lead to what she became loved around the world for. Gradually, she moved from a kiddie pool to the ocean, and in June of 2009, Ricochet competed in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surfing Competition. She was a little over a year old at the time, but she finished third. It was clear then that she had a little something extra, which, considering the fact that a normal service dog role likely wasn’t in the cards for her, was a blessing.
Surf Dog Ricochet, back when she was just Ricochet. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet//Facebook
“The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge invitation came at a pivotal time in her life, as it occurred during a period of serious discussions about her future,” her website reads. “It was already evident that she wasn’t fulfilling the expectations as a traditional service dog due to her interest in chasing critters… and there was disappointment about what she couldn’t do, or become.”
A few weeks later, it was decided that Ricochet wouldn’t become a service dog — at least not in the regular sense. She would instead become a SURFice dog, an idea that was born that day during the contest.
Ricochet doing her balancing act in a kiddie pool before graduating to the ocean. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet//Facebook
Her first go-around with tandem surfing was with a quadriplegic adaptive surfer named Patrick Ivison. And Ricochet made her intentions known almost immediately.
“The first time they surfed, the plan was to surf the same wave but on their individual boards, ” her owners explained. “They did that a few times, but then one time when they reached shore, Surf Dog Ricochet took a leap of faith (literally), and jumped off her board, and onto Patrick’s.”
But surfing wasn’t her only talent. While many dogs have the ability to tell what humans might be feeling, Ricochet seemed to be a little more intuitive than most. “What makes Surf Dog Ricochet extraordinary is her powerful ability to make immediate, deep, heart-to-heart connections with the individuals she interacts with,” the website wrote a few years ago. “She intuitively and empathically alerts to their emotional and physical changes which allows for profound paws-on healing interventions.”
Surf Dog Ricochet began working with military personnel with PTSD, even getting special training to help with it. She was able to alert to to their physical and emotional pain, and because of that, she acted as both a service dog or an emotional support dog.
Over the years, Ricochet became a spokes dog for the PTSD Battle Buddy Initiative, Waves of Empowerment, Operation Socialization for puppies in training, San Diego’s Make-A-Wish Foundation, and many more. She also starred in a movie called Superpower Dogs which focused on some of the world’s most incredible dogs and what they could do. She raised more than a million dollars for over 250 different causes over the course of her life.
On the afternoon of March 31, it was clear that Ricochet wasn’t faring too well. She’d been batting cancer for quite some time. When Judy Fridono returned from an errand at 2:30 p.m., Ricochet was lying in the living room, panting much harder than normal.
Surf Dog Ricochet, the best girl. Photo: Surf Dog Ricochet/Facebook
“I went to her, and she was having tremors throughout her body,” Fridono wrote. “I quickly gave her some CBD oil, but it didn’t help. It seemed she couldn’t get up herself, so I helped her. She went outside and walked the property. She came up the back stairs and just laid at the top. Again, I helped her up and took her inside. She then went to drink water and stood there for about five minutes kind of in a fog.”
Fridono decided to take her to the emergency vet, where they did an ultrasound of her stomach. They found a number of issues due to the cancer including a rupture in her liver. The rupture sent bacteria through her body, causing sepsis. After several pain injections, the decision was made to let Ricochet go at 10 p.m. that night.
“Ricochet took her first breath in my hand when she was born,” Fridono wrote, “and she took her last breath in my hand yesterday. She was surrounded by those who love her, but she wasn’t really ‘there.’ I believe her spirit was already gone and her body was just waiting to be done.”
Rest in peace, Ricochet, and thanks for everything you did.
