Monica Medina | Downtown News
Furry friends unleashed at Petco Park
They came in droves; some wearing baseball caps, others bedecked in fanciful bows. A few toted tutus and a handful seemed ready to dance the hula in their colorful leis and grass skirts.
One seemed to be a ringer for the Swinging Friar, the Padres’ mascot. Another looked angelic in wings, and at least one sported a blue Mohawk.
In other words, the dog days of summer were upon us, and all that was needed was to hear the Baha Men belt out, “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
The 10th annual “Dog Days of Summer” at Petco Park is the one time a year when San Diego Padre fans can bring their beloved pooches to the park for spirited fun, contests, an assortment of giveaways, and the traditional doggie costume parade just before game time. It all took place at Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, July 29.
For the 300 dogs and their owners in attendance, it was a picture perfect, summer day, with America’s favorite pastime, baseball, coming together rather nicely with America’s much-loved pets, for one outlandish canine party.
The only rule for dog owners seemed to be to keep pets on leashes at all times. Other than that, it was no holds barred. Game on!
Of course, one imagines that the dogs in attendance must have been fretting for weeks on what to wear, on what can only be described as Oscar night for the canine set. Indeed, Sir Ruffles von Vicious looked stunning in a peacock concoction. Is it any wonder he was a fanciful finalist for the Best Costume category?
The Best Padres Spirit award went to Faith, who no doubt was thrilled to have an encore of last year’s win. For the occasion, her mom even gave the pup a pedicure, in alternate colors of blue and gold. Clearly, Faith kept the faith.
Kudos to Cuddles who won in the Best Pet Trick category, for successfully tossing the ball back to mama.
Best Costume went to Porkchop and his owners, Susie Kara and her daughter, Madelyn of North Park. The three came dressed as Swinging Friars.
As for the winner of the Pet/Parent Look-a-Like contest, it went hands — or paws — down to an adorable pooch and his human dad, who were perfectly matched in their Hawaiian hula outfits.
In San Diego to throw the first pitch, was Gus Kenworthy, Olympic skier and Silver Medalist, who made national headlines last February during the Winter Olympics for rescuing five puppies from the streets of Sochi. For the 22-year-old skier, his love for dogs came at an early age.
“I’m a huge dog lover,” Kenworthy said. “Since as long as I can remember, my mom told me that when I could first walk, I’d walk up to any dog that I could see. So being here today is awesome. It means the world to me.”
Kenworthy, who said that this was his first trip to San Diego, was enjoying his visit to America’s Finest City. He admitted, though, to being surprised by the excessive heat.
“San Diego is amazing and very pretty down by the marina — the sailboats, the cool bridge that goes over to the island (Coronado Bridge, right?),” he said. “It’s a very cool city, but hotter than I thought it would be. I expected it to be nice and cool by the ocean but actually it’s really hot.”
As for where his alliances lie, rest assured, Kenworthy is happy cheering for the home team.
“I’m definitely rooting for the Padres,” he said, adding with a devilish grin, “Stay classy, San Diego.”
The San Diego Humane Society, which brought along Tucker, the dog charged with helping to throw the first pitch, gave the festivities two paws up.
“It’s a lot of fun to be here,” said Kelly Termine of the Oceanside campus. “It’s really good exposure for us to get our programs out there in the public, and, of course, for adopting animals, though we can’t do adoptions here. But if anyone’s interested in adopting, they can come to the shelter and check them out.”
As for Tucker, Termine admitted he was a bit on edge in anticipation of the first pitch.
“Tucker is a little nervous right now,” she said, lowering her voice, so as to be out of his earshot. “He told me so. We’re trying to keep him hydrated and cool, airing him a little bit and hoping for the best, but it’s pretty hot right now.”
Hot? Of course it’s hot. It’s the dog days of summer, after all.
—Monica Medina is a local freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
