Preserving Huntington Beach Dog Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
When Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) dogs run free and ride the waves at HB's Dog Beach they can thank Love Lee Ghione. Since 1998 she has been working to make the mile-and-a-half stretch of sand between Golden West and Seapoint a special place for beach-loving canines.
Ghione, who oversees the Preservation Society of Huntington Dog Beach, credits the group’s late founder, Martin Senat, with getting Dog Beach approved.
She told SurfWriter Girls he turned a littered spot on Pacific Coast Highway that locals called "tin can beach" into a clean, safe place for dogs. "He went to City Hall for a long time, petitioned for it, and finally got it done."
Dog Beach has become a labor of love for Ghione, who has three dogs of her own (Peeke-a-Boo, Tyler, and CoCo). She created the website (Dogbeach.org), helps maintain the beach and works with volunteers.
There's a lot to do to make the beach safe and inviting for dogs to play and socialize. Not the least is keeping the 23 doggy waste bag dispensers on-site stocked.
Ghione appreciates all the volunteers who show up to help, including the Surfrider Foundation, Lions Club, and sponsors Cali Dog, Makin Waves Salon, Raising Cane, Fred's Cantina, and Sandy's Beach Shack.
Calling Dog Beach "a Doggie Disneyland" because it's "the happiest place" for dogs, Ghione has seen lots of doggie events staged there from Corgi Day and Wienerfest…
to Surf City Surf Dog Day. "We're always hoping to line up new things."
Ghione, who's at the heart of HB's vibe (she's known on Instagram as surfcitywonderwoman), volunteers at Dog Beach every Saturday. And on New Year's Day look for her at the iconic HB Pier.
She started the annual Surf City Splash New Year's Day run into the ocean in 2001
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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