12/4--Jingle Paws Walk for Pets

Check out the Jingle Paws Walk for Pets hosted by the Aces Foundation and Camp Bow Wow on December 4, 2010. The Aces Foundation website brochure says, "Festivities begin at 9:00am with a Blessing of the Animals, walk begins immediately after. Last years event raised over $4,000.00 all of which is used to assist the guests at El Cajon Animal Shelter. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000.00. Anyone who loves animals is encouraged to join the walk. Walkers can come with or without a companion animal. We invite you to stay for Santa’s Village, which begins immediately after Jingle Paws Walk. It’s sure to be a fun filled day with games for your pooch and the entire family! Hope to see you there. " Please check out the link for more more information and registration details.

First Fridays on the Wooftop

Join on the First Fridays on the Wooftop events with your dog at The Porto Vista Hotel, that hosts monthly on-leash Wooftop Happy Hour. The next event is on Friday, November 5th from 5:30 to 9 p.m and is a free event. This upcoming event will focus on giving to pups in need which will benefit the Second Chance Dog Rescue. They are requesting donations for dogs in need such as: kibble, bedding, leashes, collars, crates, blankets, and medical supplies. There will be a raffle give-away for donation participants.

10/2--The Mutt Mile & Doggy Costume Contest

Check out the 2010 Coastwise Mile & 5K at the beautiful La Jolla Cove on Saturday October 2nd! One of the events will include the The Mutt Mile & Doggy Costume Contest. Their website goes on to say, "The Mutt Mile kicks off @ 7:30am. So bring your canine compadre and run/walk a mile. All dogs must have their shots (and be up to date). And all dogs must be on a leash (8' max length). We will also be having a costume contest @ 7:15am prior to the run (so the dogs don't have to run in their costumes). So come out and have some fun at the park, and stop by the San Diego Humane Society booth. Please note that due to City Regulations all dogs must vacate the park by 9:00am." Click on the link above to view the website and get more information about the event and registration. The San Diego Humane Society is one of the beneficiaries of the event!

9/12--Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon

The Helen Woodward Animal Center will be holding the 5th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon on Sunday, September 12th. It will be held at North Beach in Del Mar, also known as Dog Beach or the River Mouth. We went to a dog surf event earlier this year with Penny, and it was SOOOOO much fun! The Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon homepage explains, "Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon is a great family day at the beach for surfers and dog lovers alike. This event will help raise awareness and money for orphaned pets while promoting responsible pet ownership....The funds raised will be used to support all the programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Please remember to bring money to the beach as there will be over 40 vendors, food, and an opportunity drawing!" The HWAC website goes on to say, "Other fun animal-friendly activities include the Beach Bum Bikini BabeCanine Costume Contest and interactive Vendor Booths from the surf and pet industries.... Local and national media will be involved in the promotion andcoverage of this event, with expected attendance in the thousands!"

9/11--Labradors & Friends Dog Rescue event

On Saturday, September 11th at 6pm, Labradors and Friends Dog Rescue will be holding their 2nd annual silent auction at the Carlsbad Sheraton Resort & Spa. Tickets are $65 and includes a 3-course gourmet dinner. Click on the link to find out more. (Doesn't sound like an event you could bring your dog to, but it would be a great way to support this rescue group!)

Surf Dog Ricochet

What an amazing San Diego dog! Check out Surf Dog Ricochet and all the wonderful things this dog does to support others in need! Here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4 to an inspirational video on You Tube that tells about her story and an example of how her talents have been put to incredible use to help others. Ricochet is a surfing dog, or rather SURFicing dog (serving others), who raises money for some great causes.

Click on the link above to read more about Ricochet, find out about surf dog events, help support/donate to these causes, learn how to teach your dog to surf, and more! Here is a little bit of Ricochet's story--from the perspective of Ricochet--that she tells on her website. "I'm a multi faceted SURFice dog that has raised thousands and thousands of dollars for charitable causes (over $47,500 in just 10 months!), and inspired millions of people with my SURFice dog video, which went viral and has over 2.6 million views! I also surf for fun, and have won several surf dog competitions. But, my main focus is working with people with disabilities in a non traditional way, and supporting human/animal causes....I was born, and raised as part of the Puppy Prodigies Neo-Natal & Early Learning Program with hopes of becoming a service dog for a person with a disability. But, they tell me I'm a little too interested in chasing birds, and other small animals. So, my career path changed, and instead of becoming a service dog, I became a SURFice dog! Now, I have a personal initiative called "Surfin' for Paws-abilities" which raises awareness, and funds for human/animal causes....When I'm not surfing or fund raising, I'm involved in goal assisted therapy working with children through Pawsitive Teams or animal assisted activities through Therapy Dogs Incorporated....I also love lure coursing, and chasing birds and other critters very, VERY much! I hope you enjoy learning about my surfing adventures, surf contests, and fundraising efforts... as much as I enjoy doing them!"

7/29--Yappy Hour Cookout

Check out the Yappy Hour Cookout at Three Dog Bakery in Del Mar on Thursday, July 29th from 5-7pm. This event benefits FOCAS which is a non-profit, volunteer organization that helps lost and abandoned dogs and cats in San Diego Animal Services' shelters. "

6/27--Yappy Hour

Check out a Yappy Hour tomorrow (6/27-Sun) from 4 to 6 pm to benefit the FACE Foundation. The website says, "Enjoy a Glass of Wine and Help Save a Life at “Yappy Hour”! Join the FACE Foundation and Three Dog Bakery for Yappy Hour! You will enjoy wine, treats for humans and a “Quick Tip” dog training workshop conducted by Colleen Demling from Pawtopia. A portion of each sale made at Three Dog Bakery between 4:00 and 6:00 pm on June 27th will benefit the FACE Foundation." This event will be held at “Three Dog Bakery” 1555 Camino Del Mar

6/12--Bark for Life

You and your dog are invited to the Bark for Life event, hosted by the American Cancer Society, on Saturday June 12th at San Dieguito Academy High School in Encinitas from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. There will be vendors, guest speakers, doggy services such as microchipping, adoptions, dog contests, and more! 100 % of proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Check out the link for registration details and more information about this event. All activities and events are open to the public. They welcome you to bring your tent, lawn chair, canopy to set up in the picnic area, and outside food and drinks are welcome. They say, "Our hope is to one day find a cure for cancer not only in humans but in every living animal."

6/5--Novelty Fun Dog Show

The 6th Annual Novelty Fun Dog Show will be held on Saturday, June 5th at the Viejas Outlet Center. Registration is at 9am and the show starts at 10am. Proceeds from this event go toward the Alpin Lions club project of sponsoring service dogs for San Diego people with disabilities. There are fun entry categories like: prettiest female dog, most handsome male dog, best trick by dog, least trained dog, and waggiest tail dog just to name a few. Anyone can enter their dog! For registration and event details click on the link.

6/5--Helen Woodward benefit event

The Helen Woodward Animal Center's 22nd Annual Spring Fling will be held on Saturday, June 5th at 6:30pm to midnight at the Helen Woodward Animal Center's Rancho Santa Fe campus. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on the link.

5/23--La Jolla Pet Parade

Join in on the 2nd Annual La Jolla Pet Parade on Sunday, May 23rd from 10am-2pm to benefit the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP). This website says, "Fun for the whole family - the event includes a festive sidewalk parade in the beautiful downtown Village of La Jolla and a festival offering fun contests, vendor booths and an adoption fair!"

May 1st--Walk for Animals

On 5/1/10 (Saturday), the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA will be hosting a Walk for Animals fundraiser in Mission Bay, to help pets throughout San Diego get the care they need and deserve. There are prizes to win, depending on how much you fundraise. This is a family-friendly event! The walk will be a short .75 miles. There will also be vendors, food, and music there!

Woofstock--April 10th

Want to participate in a fun event with your pooch and help fundraise at the same time?! On April 10th, Woofstock will be held in Balboa Park to benefit CCI (Canine Campanions for Independence). Penny's 'cousin' is a CCI doggy! CCI's website explains how they are a "nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships...CCI assistance dogs open up new lives of independence, mobility, companionship, and inclusion for those with disabilities. CCI is supported entirely by private donations, foundations, and fundraisers like WOOFSTOCK 2010." This is a 60's themed festival for people and their dogs, which kicks off with a "Walk 'n Roll" fun walk, and the festival begins after! Check out CCI's website to learn more about this organization, and to find out more information on Woofstock event information and registration. It sounds like it's going to be a blast!

Sun March 28th--Vaccination and Health Seminar

There will be a seminar on Sunday March 28th at the Del Mar Hilton that will present information on vaccinations and health care for dogs. Admission (includes breakfast, lunch and a bag of Nature's Variety dog or cat Food) is $115, or sign up with a friend for $100 each. All proceeds (minus direct expenses of the seminar) benefit the Rabies Challenge Fund.