SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - One of San Diego's favorite four-legged friends is offering to lend an ear to anyone struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Richochet the Surf Dog is holding online therapy sessions through Zoom or FaceTime. Her handler says it's the best way she can think of to help others right now.
"During this time, there's such a need for therapy dogs to be helping people," says Judy Fridono. "But we can't go out, we can't do it... So we're expanding the online program as we go. I had no idea if this would work or not, but it is working and it's really, really important."
During the online therapy sessions, kids can read to Ricochet or give her commands to follow. Nurses and doctors are allowed to vent their frustrations or sorrow to her. Families have called her to grieve.
For ICU Nurse Diana Moczygemba, it was helpful to just have someone listen.
"Dogs can't talk, I get that," Moczygemba says. "But they have body language and nonverbal communication. And dogs don't judge you, they listen. And that's probably the most important part is that you have you have a listing ear."
To schedule a therapy session with Ricochet, go to her website, surfdogricochet.com.
