por Peggy Scott
For the rest of the baseball season, when the Padres are away, the dogs can play — and so can their people. After all, they don’t call them the “Dog Days of Summer” for nothing.
While the team’s official dog-friendly game, the Padres Dog Days of Summer event has sold out, the furry Friar Faithful can still enjoy a trip to the ol’ ballpark — or at least the nice 3-acre park at the Park — through the Away at the Park program. Through the end of the 2009 season, the Padres will show all Cox Channel 4 televised road games on the Park at the Park video board (the back of the Batter’s Eye, which faces the grass). Pick a good spot, spread out your blankets and beach towels, and then you and your pooch can park it and catch the game. Away at the Park is open to all fans for FREE.
The whole baseball experience is available, and all elements of the public park remain intact, including the opportunity to bring leashed dogs into the area. Picnic Hill, the youth baseball field, “Beacher” area, and the children’s tot lot adjacent to J Street will all be open and accessible during Away at the Park events. And what’s a game without a beer and a dog — hot dog, that is? During Friday and Saturday games, concessions will be offered for purchase, including sodas, hot dogs, sausages, beer, nachos and dip-n-dots ice cream. But if you come for other games, it’s strictly brown bag or, in this case, doggy bag.
So why the welcome mat for mutts? George Stieren, Padres’ and PETCO Park’s director of Business P.R., thinks it’s a natural.
“We’re proud of this park,” Stieren said. “And baseball’s the national pastime. What better way to enjoy it than sharing it with Fido?”

Upcoming Away at the Park games include Aug. 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 25-28; and Sept. 4, 5, 6, 8, 18, 20, 21-27. Again, concession stands are open Friday and Saturday games only.