Warning! Some Girl (Dogs) Will Surf Topless at 5th Annual Surf Dog Surf A Thon!

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Sep 02, 2010, 01:00 ET

DEL MAR, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "You can't get more Southern California than this." That's how a reporter in England described the annual, "Surf Dog Surf A Thon" benefiting Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC). "Families with their dogs at the beach... surfing! That's California." Now is the time to get a, "leg up" on the competition and register yourself (and your dog) for the 5th annual Surf Dog on Sunday, September 12 at world famous Dog Beach in Del Mar, California.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100902/DC58878 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100902/DC58878 )

"Hundreds of dogs and thousands of people will, 'join paws' to help Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon retain its title as the world's largest dog surfing event," says HWAC, "Big Kahuna" John Van Zante. "We allow 120 surfing dogs and we're expecting 150 human surfers and thousands of spectators. Surf Dog is huge!"

HWAC Sponsorship, "Wahini" Nedra Abramson says, "Returning surfers and sponsors including Iams dog food and GT Surfboards will be joined by new supporters that want to catch the wave of Surf Dog success. Proceeds support the programs and services that Helen Woodward Animal Center provides for animals and people in-need."

Surf Dog 2010 on September 12 will also feature, "Doo the Dah for the Dogs." Individuals and teams of up top 10 will surf while wearing costumes. Judges including champion surfers and members of the host surfing club, Swami's Surfing Association, will pick the top three individual or team costumes as well as the best themed team ride.

Activities for, "Sand Crabs" (non-surfers) will include the, "Beach Bum and Bikini Babe Canine Costume Contest." Dogs will strut their stuff on the, "catwalk" as celebrity judges including Shorty (as seen on Animal Planet's, "Pit Boss") and Animal Planet veterinarian Dr. Stacy Funchino pick the best costumes. The 2008 contest was featured on The Travel Channel's, "Bridget's Sexiest Beaches," resulting on Dog Beach in Del Mar being named one of the sexiest beaches in the world! (Yes, we see the irony in this. Girl dogs not wearing bikini tops? Sexy?)

Pat Weber and San Diego Surfing Academy will join world champion tandem surfer and board designer Guy Takayma and San Diego Pet Training owner Rob Kuty to oversee the event and assure safe surfing for all of the dogs and humans involved in the contests.

For more information visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, call 858-756-4117 x339, or log on to www.animalcenter.org.

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center