Dozer the dog won category in 2010 Purina surf challenge in OB
Doug Hokstad always loved to surf. But 15 years ago, a serious car accident and several resultant back surgeries snatched away that passion, adding the risk of paralysis if he ever returned to the waves. The native San Diegan, who’d grown up surfing, reluctantly abandoned his surfboard and rarely neared the water or visited the beach. Thanks to the persistence of his girlfriend, Gigi Bagaporo, who had grown up with English bulldogs and urged Hokstad to adopt, the Mira Mesa resident not only discovered the joys and responsibilities of pet parenthood, but also reconnected with his old love of surfing. Hokstad had never had a dog. A conscientious, serious-minded man with a charitable bent and need to give back to the community, Hokstad researched dogs — English bulldogs in particular — which, he learned, is a unique breed “with issues.” About five years ago, Hokstad was finally ready to take the plunge. Dozer, an English bulldog puppy, took over his and Bagaporo’s lives. “I looked at it as taking on a family member,” Hokstad said. “As my first dog, it was an awakening, a real responsibility. I didn’t understand how dogs change your life.” Until then, he didn’t know any of his neighbors. Now, he knows all of his neighbors through their dogs. Dozer, they discovered, was no ordinary canine, but a dog who brought joy and pleasure into everyone’s lives. For their first Christmas as a threesome, the couple dressed him in a holiday jacket and antlers and took him for photographs at Fashion Valley Mall. On his march through Macy’s, Dozer’s toothy hang-dog grin brought smiles to passers-by. Hokstad tried to interest Dozer in skateboarding, but found he preferred to play with the skateboard rather than ride it. About three years ago, Bagaporo took Dozer to watch the Helen Woodward Surf Dog Competition but discovered him eager to hop aboard a board. “Our baby is a surfer,” Bagaporo said. Suddenly, with Dozer on the board with Hokstad’s assistance, Hokstad was able to reclaim his passion for surfing through his beloved pup. “Now I’m out in the ocean in the waves. My son is surfing!” Hokstad said. “It’s come full circle. I never thought I’d put a surfboard in the car again. It’s changed my life once more.” Dozer, an 80-pound English bulldog with a typical bulldog mug, classic protruding jaw and stocky build, took to the water like a natural and immediately attracted media attention.  He and Hokstad began surfing and participating in competitions. They befriended a group of avid surf dogs and their humans, who eventually formed their own organization — So Cal Surf Dogs — to promote canine surfing. Dozer began winning prizes, finishing first in the took first place in the Small Dog Division at the 2010 Purina Incredible Surf Challenge held in Ocean Beach, and winning prizes in other surf dog events, including the Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-thon and Loew’s Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition. Dozer’s outstanding performance at Loew’s, along with those of his surfing buddies Richochet, Nani, Guido, Kalani, Abbie and Zoe, snagged them roles as surf dogs in the movie, “Marmaduke,” which opened in June. Dozer and Nani are shown surfing in the film, shot over three days at Zuma Beach north of Malibu. The desire to post photos and videos of Dozer and his surfing buddies led Hokstad last year to develop a website — Dogtown San Diego (www.dogtown-sandiego.com). He saw its potential as an information-sharing site for “all things dog,” including articles about rescue and animal welfare organizations, pet health, safety and well-being and fundraising events. “I felt that just showcasing Dozer and his surfing pictures was self-serving,” Hokstad said. “I turned Dogtown into a community site where local organizations could list their events and adoptions and businesses could showcase their services.” Among the services and businesses listed on Dogtown San Diego are pet-friendly restaurants that welcome dogs — not just tolerate them — and Dozer-approved products including water-resistant collars and comfortable lifejackets. A former pastor turned insurance financial consultant, Hokstad had always been involved in charitable causes. He enjoyed staging fishing tournaments to raise money for Angel Tree, a nonprofit organization providing Christmas gifts to children of incarcerated parents. As he became more involved with Dozer and other dogs he gravitated to animal welfare causes for his charitable work, drawing in his So Cal Surf Dog buddies. His new website gave him the perfect tool to publicize yappy hours and other events benefiting animal-related non-profits. Hokstad partners with dog-oriented businesses such as the Three Dog Bakery in Del Mar, Leash Your Fitness and Pawtopia Dog Training and the Hotel Indigo in Little Italy to stage and promote animal welfare events. “Our group is about having fun with our dogs in the ocean,” Hokstad said. “We’re supportive of animal welfare organizations and have raised money for Helen Woodward Animal Care Center, the Spay & Neuter Action Project (SNAP), Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) and the FACE Foundation,” which provides partial grants to families struggling pay for urgent medical treatment for their pets. To watch videos of Dozer and the So Cal Surf Dogs in action, visit www.dogtownsandiego.com.