Summer 2008 - San Francisco SPCA

Salty Dogs Set SailBY PAUL GLASSNER, SF/SPCAPHOTOGRAPHS © 2008 MARK ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHYMARK DONATED HIS TIME AND TALENT TO THE SF/SPCA.Every spring, HornblowerCruises & Events invitesall San Francisco SPCAsalty dogs (and the sweetones, too) for a first-classcruise aboard their flagshipvessel, the San Francisco Belle,an outing known as Dog Dayon the Bay. Created originallyby a Hornblower staffer andheld last May for the fourthconsecutive year, this nauticalevent is unique to TheSF/SPCA – and it’s not merelyexclusive, it’s extraordinary.Canines are catered to witha Bow Wow Doggy Buffet thatincludes a variety of cheesecubes, delectable meat-flavoredsnacks and all kinds oftreats, even Happy Tail Ale, abeef-flavored, non-alcoholicbeer for dogs. The ship comeswith non-slip floors anyway,but special protective nettingis added to railings at dogheight throughout. The crewcomes complete with a fleet ofSF/SPCA dog monitors plusonboard veterinarian andnurse just in case. Oh, andseveral artists are available torender sketches of adoreddogs (with fees donated toThe SF/SPCA).Then there’s the poop deck,a large area on the boat’s toplevel carpeted with real grass,surely the world’s most picturesqueplace to, uh, go. As theyhave each year, Sloat GardenCenter generously donatesand delivers hundreds ofpounds of sod for the occasion,and the dogs know justwhat to, uh, do.Meantime, the humans(they are the ones paying forpassage, after all) get treatedto their own all-you-can-eatgourmet buffet plus all-youdare-drinkchampagne. Not tomention the fabulous views.And the company of hundredsof well-behaved dogs andtheir friendly, dotingguardians. For people whocouldn’t stand to just sit, eat,drink and talk, an onboardtreasure hunt rounded out theleisurely midday voyage.One more thing: thisbrunch on a boat benefitshomeless animals at TheSF/SPCA, so we hope to “sea”you next year! YSummer 2008 | www.sfspca.org | SF/SPCA Our Animals 15