Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/ricochet-surfing-therapy-dog/

It’s always sad when we say goodbye to a dear friend. That is how many of us feel now that Ricochet the golden retriever has passed away.

She was 15 years old at the end of her life, and during the time she was alive, she assisted in raising more than $1 million for charity. This included a donation of over 1 million bowls of food for sheltered animals.

Ricochet was more than a therapy dog. She was trained as a therapy dog, but eventually, they found out that she had a most unusual talent.

According to the Chicago Tribune, her owner, Judy Fridono, explained it, saying that she had been trained as a service dog but enjoyed chasing birds and being outside more than doing her duty.

In 2009, Ricochet showed that she was more than a service dog in another way. She hopped on a surfboard with Patrick Ivison, a quadriplegic surfer, and a viral hero was born.

The Chicago Tribune reports that when Fridono was interviewed in 2012, she spoke about how Ricochet was reborn when she jumped on the surfboard with Patrick.

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Fridono continued: “She kept running back to the water with her tail wagging like she could finally tell me, ‘This is what I want to do.’”

Ricochet went on to help many individuals that had special needs. This included children, veterans, and those who needed some emotional support. People worldwide fell in love with Ricochet, and she inspired others to act.

In 2022, Ricochet was having some health issues, so she rode on a surfboard for the last time. Last August, she was then diagnosed with liver cancer and kidney disease.

You can watch her take her final ride in the video below:

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According to Fox 5 San Diego, Ricochet passed away peacefully in early April, 2023. She has inspired millions of people, and her legacy will continue to live on.

Check out the video below:

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog