A Poodle mix adopted from a pound in Portugal has found a new calling in life. He’s the UK’s first surf therapy dog.
Scooter’s dog mom Kirstie Coy-Martin rescued her pup from a pound in Portugal, where he lived as a stray. He was due to be put to sleep as the pound was full. However, Coy-Martin saw his photo online in 2016 and decided to bring him over to the UK.
Surfing in Their Spare Time
Police officer Coy-Martin enjoys surfing in her free time, and took her canine along with her to teach him. At first, Scooter – who rocks a blue mohawk – balanced on the surfboard with cushions resembling rocky waves, but after getting some experience ventured out to the sea.
“I follow lots of surfy things and dog things, and discovered one day that over in America there was such a thing as surf therapy dogs,” she said. “I thought, wow, I wonder if I could teach Scooter to surf.”
Scooter soon got a taste for riding the waves, and helps others as part of Scooter’s Surf School. The surfing dog visits patients in hospitals and care homes too.
Helping Others
One human Scooter was able to help was 13-year-old Ander, who lives with severe anxiety. Ander missed his first two surfing sessions as a result. But with the help from Scooter he was able to get out of his car, put his wetsuit on, and get onto the surfboard. He even wanted to join his local Wave Therapy surf club.
“I have never seen him love a sport as much as surfing but I honestly don’t think we would have got him in the water without the both of you,” Ander’s mom Laura Etherington told Coy-Martin.
Scooter even raised £2000 to get a specially adapted surfboard so that he could surf with physically disabled children. He took part in a One Wave Bracklesham Bay charity surf, and is even planning on releasing a children’s book: Scooter The Surfing Dog Finds His Forever Home.
