The sun was shining brightly on Del Mar Dog Beach in California on Sunday, September 7, for the 20th Annual Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon, where dozens of talented pooches and their owners helped put the ‘fun’ into fundraising. This unique event is a great opportunity for friends, families, and four-legged friends to come together to raise life-saving funds for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Apart from being one of the most exciting, entertaining, and energetic charity events on the calendar, the Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon also stands out for being one of the few where 100% of all donations go directly to supporting the animal shelter.

There were plenty of opportunities to shine, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in five weight classes, with the first place winners progressing to compete for the prestigious ‘Best in Surf’.

There was also a freestyle event, with points awarded for creativity. Dogs could surf on the same board as their friends or their favorite human. Tandem rides, tricks, and costumes were all on show to catch the judge’s eye. And if that wasn’t enough, live beach tunes, the crowd-pleasing Canine Costume Contest, a special Kid’s Activity area with crafts and games, the BARKet Place featuring a variety of pet-focused exhibitor booths, a free agility course sponsored by San Diego Pet Training, and the exciting awards ceremony ensured that a good time was had by all.

With so much energy and excitement, it would be easy to forget that this was all for a good cause!

The Helen Woodward Animal Center

The San Diego animal shelter was founded by Helen Whittier Woodward as part of her mission to make the world a better place for people and animals. In 1972, she and a group of friends envisioned a facility that would encompass comprehensive animal care and public education programs. Through her support and leadership, the facility has grown into one of the area’s most highly regarded animal and human service programs.

Unfortunately, many of the structures that house Helen Woodward Animal Center today were not built until after Helen’s death in 1983 at the age of 79, so she was not able to see her final dream realized. The Center was renamed in 1986 to honor her memory.

To find out more, get involved, or make a donation, go to animalcenter.org, and be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s event!

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