Surfing Dogs Hang 20 at California Surf-A-Thon

(Sept. 9) -- Forget doggie paddling -- these pooches know how to hang 20.

More than 4,000 people are expected to watch as feisty canines hit the waves on Sunday and get totally tubular at the fifth annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, Calif.

And this event isn't just for the dogs; it's a benefit for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

"Helen Woodward Animal Center came up with the concept for the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in 2006," said spokesman John Van Zante. "It was a brand new idea. When a potential sponsor declined the opportunity to partner with us, we decided to go it alone. We scheduled the first Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon and began recruiting surfers ... both canine and human. Now it's the biggest dog surfing event in the world featuring the most famous surfing dogs in the world!"

The pups will be divided into weight classes, then they'll hit the waves with their owners for 20-minute heats. Judges will be watching to see which dogs are best at riding the waves, staying on their boards and having fun.

Winners will be chosen for each weight class, and the first-place finishers will move on to a final round.

The canine surf contest won't be the only action; there's also a Beach Bum and Bikini Babe Canine Costume Contest and the "Doo the Dah for Dogs," a surfing contest for human surfers.

Last year, the event raised $49,800. So far this year, surfing aficionados and animal lovers have already donated more than $90,000, according to the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon donation page.

According to Van Zante, there's a big wave of interest in surfing dog events.

"Some of the events are local (So Cal), but we've also heard from Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand," he said. "We investigated the possibility of creating a Surf Dog World Cup event."