It’s a Dog’s Life at C-DOG

Dogs wearing sunglasses, tie-dyed shirts and the latest in canine fashion, and even hanging eight on a surfboard. These are some of the things you may have seen at previous Spring Dog Festivals hosted by the Coastal Dog Owners Group (C-DOG), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization based in Capitola.

The festival takes place every May at the athletic field with a new theme each year. The 2010 theme was “Woofstock West” where dog owners dressed their canine companions in hippie garb or hauled them around in psychedelic-decorated wagons. Other previous themes included “Beach Blanket Bow Wow” and “Cinquo de Fido.”

But C-DOG has serious business on its agenda as well. Besides the festival, which the C-DOG board hopes will spread good news about dogs throughout the community, it also created the Angel Fund. The fund consists of proceeds from the Spring Dog Festival that are used to help support several local organizations, such as the Santa Cruz SPCA Spay Neuter Fund and Annie's Blankets, which collects towels and blankets and distributes them to animal shelters, veterinary clinics and animal hospitals throughout the Central Coast and Bay Area.

C-DOG has also established a Group Scholarship Fund with three scholarships of  $500, $300 and $200 awarded to high school students who successfully complete the Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Veterinary Science class.

Sandi Pensinger, president of C-DOG, said, “The intent of the scholarship is to assist students to attend an accredited college full time, in order to pursue a career in veterinary medicine or animal sciences.”

C-DOG also recently announced a grant of $1,000 to the Santa Cruz County Public Library’s Tales to Tails program, now taking place at the on Wednesday afternoons, in which children read to dogs to encourage kids’ confidence in reading.

The Tales to Tails program director, Janis O’Driscoll, said, "The generous grant from Coastal Dog Owners will allow the library to promote this important literacy program to parents and teachers in Santa Cruz County.  And best of all, the funds will allow us to purchase reader-appropriate books about dogs as a reward for each child who participates in 10 sessions of Tales to Tails. The gifts of a dog's attention, along with a book to read—what could be better?"

Pensinger agreed. “The award is a celebration of the human-canine bond,” she said. “It takes a community to improve the lives of children. We are delighted that the Spring Dog Festival was able to help the Tales to Tails literacy program.”

C-DOG accepts applications for grants to nonprofit organizations in Santa Cruz County that specifically help dogs.

Sunday, May 15, marks the Coastal Dog Owners Group 10th Annual Spring Dog Festival, with the theme “Fetch a Wave,” and C-DOG is looking for festival volunteers. If you love sunshine, a fun time—and dogs—you won’t want to miss this. If you need advance proof of the good time in store, just check out pictures from Woofstock West!