Surf Dog World Cup…Here We Come!

4th Surf Dog Surf A Thon Well Worth Howling About! 

4,000 dog lovers and thousand of their, “best friends” made the pilgrimage to Dog Beach in Del Mar, CA for the world’s largest dog surfing competition.  The 4th annual, “Surf Dog Surf A Thon” benefiting Helen Woodward Animal Center raised nearly $50,000 to supports the Center’s programs for animals and people in-need.  

“Best in Surf” went to a Jack Russell Terrier named, “Buddy” and his person, Bruce Hooker from Ventura. Second place honors went to, Ricochet, a Golden Retriever. Following at a close third place was, “Dozer,” an English Bulldog and member of the newly-formed San Diego Dog Surfing Association.  

Human surfers wearing theme costumes participated in the, “Doo the Dah for Dogs” surfing contest. First place finisher was _Pat Weber the ‘Hula Man’ followed by the red team Bruce and Buddy Hooker and Chicks on Sticks.  

Top individual fundraiser was Karl Eberhardt and the top fundraising team was K9 Kahunas.  

HWAC spokesman John Van Zante says, “It was just a little more than three years ago that we came up with the idea for Surf Dog Surf A Thon. Now our event attracts including news coverage in China, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Korea.” 

Van Zante says Helen Woodward Animal Center will be working with animal welfare organizations in Hawaii, California, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia in the coming year to help them launch their own Surf Dog events. The 2010 winners will be invited to San Diego to participate in the world’s first, “Surf Dog Triple Crown.”  

For more information about Helen Woodward Animal Center or the Surf Dog Surf A Thon visit the Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, call 858-756-4117.

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