Most people know Ricochet as
the iconic surf dog that made history 10 years ago when she jumped on the board of
a boy who is paralyzed, becoming the first ever canine-assisted surf therapy dog.
Ricochet pioneered the concept of kids surfing with dogs as a form of assistance,
healing, therapy and empowerment when, on August 20th, 2009, she made an independent
decision, to jump on Patrick Ivison's board. Something like that had never happened
before, and history was made.
"I will remember that day at the beach forever," says Patrick. "Ricochet and I
caught a few waves side by side, and then she decided she wanted to ride with me.
"When she hopped on my back it was a magical experience. We were
in sync and could keep the board stable by helping each other. It was
crazy and amazing."
The fundraiser Ricochet held for me secured enough money to give me intense
physical therapy through high school and the independence I gained in that
time is incalculable."
Patrick has since graduated from USC, lives and works in LA, has a girlfriend,
an apartment, friends and the confidence and independence
to live a full and 'normal' life. "I can trace everything in my life back
to surfing with Ricochet and that first fundraiser," says Patrick. "I've
loved watching other kids get involved, and I love seeing their faces as
they surf with Ricochet. I know that she is changing their lives as much
as she changed mine."
Ricochet has assisted hundreds of kids with special needs and people with
disabilities. But what many people don't know is... Ricochet (Ruff'Sume) is a certified
goal-directed therapy dog with extraordinary healing abilities. She has been
working with service members and veterans with post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
for over seven years.
The connection she makes with people defies present-day scientific understanding.
"Superman has x-ray vision, but Ricochet can see right into your soul", said
retired Marine Staff Sergeant Persons B. Griffith IV (Griff), who suffers from
combat related post-traumatic stress.
Ricochet is extremely sensitive, empathic and intuitive. She mirrors the
emotions of those she works with through her subtle and not so subtle behaviors.
"Somehow she knows their triggers," said Judy Fridono, Ricochet's guardian.
"She assumes responsibility for their well-being and alerts them to potential
triggers in the environment. She will stop and plant (refusing to move), or
she'll redirect them to a less anxiety provoking area", said Fridono.
"The last time I worked with Ricochet, she alerted to a mall security guard by
leading me away from the area we were in. She took it a step further by guiding me
behind a bench where we were able to 'take cover' like I did when we took fire on
the battlefield", Griff said.
Ricochet's behavior helps Griff (and others she works with) identify deep seated
emotional trauma which can then be addressed with therapists. As a result, the
healing process often advances more quickly.
Both Fridono and Griff's objective with these videos is that they can be a catalyst
that gives hope to anyone with emotional trauma who is suffering in silence or
contemplating suicide. The statistics are staggering - 22 veterans with PTSD die
by suicide every day!
Fridono believes all dogs have these healing powers. Unfortunately, we often
misinterpret their cues as bad behavior. In doing so, we miss the magic every
dog is capable of. Her wish is that others will gain a better understanding
of the sentience of dogs, and how they are always communicating with us - we
just have to listen.
If you'd like to learn how to better interpret your dog's behavior, or if you'd like
to unleash their healing power, Please Visit Here
If you have PTSD, Please Visit Here:PTSD to
discover how a pet dog, emotional support dog or service dog can help you.
PLEASE NOTE:
The behaviors in the videos are NOT what you want a service dog to do. A service dog
should make it easier for you to go into social situations. Ricochet fulfills a very
specific niche with her healing power. She's most effective at the beginning of a
service member's treatment, when they are still uncovering their issues. She helps
them go very deep into their soul, which can provide additional insights during
the discovery and recognition phases of recovery.
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