Ricochet, a certified therapy dog and champion surf dog has added “Back to School” comfort to her ever-growing Covid-19 canine therapy program.As Covid-19 cases spike across the country, millions of families are experiencing high anxiety as they struggle with the decision of sending their kids back to school. Teachers are stressed as they weigh the risks and benefits of returning to their classrooms. Kids are in angst because there are so many unanswered questions of what their school year will look like.
All these feelings and uncertainty are causing great physical, psychological and emotional distress. A such, Ricochet is offering FREE outdoor house calls and school visits in the San Diego area. There is nothing like the connection, comfort and healing she can provide during in-person interactions. In addition, she is providing FREE virtual canine therapy, Zoom activities & distance learning to all individuals, families & teachers around the world.
Ricochet visits one-on-one with an individual or members of the same family outside their home. At schools, she meets outside with a classroom and interacts with each child and teacher individually. As they pet, hug and cuddle her, she provides the physical and emotional closeness that social distancing hasn’t allowed. Her calm demeanor of contentment and support afford a person’s emotions to be safely released as they are spun into a cocoon of comfort.
This initiative was established with safety protocols as the number one priority for Ricochet, her handler, and everyone she interacts with. The virus is not transmitted from dogs to humans… It’s spread from person to person. As such, the safety criteria includes individuals maintaining social distancing of six feet and wearing a mask and disposable gloves. To read all the safety criteria, and to schedule a session, please go to https://www.surfdogricochet.com/curbsidecomfort.html.
Ricochet has been offering FREE virtual canine therapy since the pandemic started. The other multi-faceted components include:
Virtual canine therapy program – A web page that has close-up photos of her eyes coupled with calming music which releases oxytocin in the brain and reduces anxiety. Hundreds of individuals who have visited the page have reported they felt a calm, connected state of being.
Video conferencing – Uses apps such as Zoom, FaceTime and Skype. These sessions are offered to families who lost a loved one to Covid-19, doctors, nurses, frontline workers and anyone else suffering a loss or feeling stressed and anxious.
Paws on Learning activities – Video conferencing on Zoom for children of all ages. Kids can talk to Ricochet while doing activities like reading to her, coloring pictures of her, teaching her tricks, show & tell, boredom busting, Q&A’s and more. Kids can interact with Ricochet from the safety of their own home!
Distance learning – The healing power of dogs – A series of three Zoom sessions on the healing power of dogs. Attendees will discover the unique and instinctive gifts and abilities that dogs possess. They’ll learn how dogs can help with depression, stress, anxiety, PTSD and more.
Ricochet has been a certified therapy dog and surf dog since 2009. She provides human-animal intervention for veterans and active duty service members recovering from combat PTSD, moral injury, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. She also works with kids on the autism spectrum and other special needs, differently abled individuals, foster children, wounded warriors, adaptive surfers, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, essential workers, teachers, students and more.
Ricochet’s canine therapy will support individuals NOW, as well as into the future. But, she needs your help to reach those who need her services. Please share this information and the program with your followers. Let’s help the world at large take a few minutes to breathe and decompress. Lets reduce anxiety… through the healing power of a dog.
Ricochet thanks you for your support.
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