For nearly 40 years dog owners have enjoyed using Point Isabel Regional Shoreline’s nearly 50 acres of open space and 3.5 miles of trails.
Last Sunday, Point Isabel Dog Owners, the nonprofit group that has worked to keep this open space safe and accessible, held its largest annual event: the Barktoberfest dog parade and costume contest.
Forty-seven people entered the contest and about 125 people attended, organizers said. Costume entry titles included “Life’s a Beach,” “Florida Hurricanes” and a “Doggy Wedding.”
In addition to being “just plain silly fun with pups, the event connects the nonprofit with park users to remind them that it’s a privilege to have a beautiful open space where dogs can play off leash and get salty in the water,” said PIDO board member AJ Benham.
“That’s only possible because 40 years ago PIDO helped negotiate — and still helps educate about — some basic rules to keep the park clean and safe for everybody,” Benham told Richmondside.
This year’s festivities included a PIDO trivia game that rewarded folks for knowing park rules and history and let them know that the magic of Point Isabel will only continue if they get involved as volunteers.
We hope you enjoy these photos as much as Richmondside freelance photographer Maurice Tierney enjoyed taking them.
Smokey Bear
Luna as ramen
I need something at Target
Mikey the peacock
Wyatt the spider
Winnie The Pooh
And the winners were…
Grand Prize Winner: Kyshka and Millie, who came with Heather Kelly’s crew as “Batman & Friends”
Small Dogs
- First Prize: Ollie with Nancy Sabin and Michaela Hinds as “Life’s a Beach”
- Second Prize: Peanut Butters with Mike and Coco as “Florida Hurricanes”
- Third Prize: Riley Shannon with Karen Thompson as “Peter Pan & Tinkerbell”
Medium Dogs
- First Prize: Poppy and Julep with Shelly & Seth Gusse as “Beetlejuice, Lydia and Family”
- Second Prize : Mikey with Lauren Bloom as “Peacocks”
- Third Prize: Bing with Carrie Schulman as a “Doggy Wedding”
Big Dogs
- First Prize: Bernie with Katie McKnight as “Batray & Eelgrass”
- Second Prize: Tucker with Laura Pak as a “Knight in Shining Armour”
- Third Prize: Sugar Boy with Pam Close as “Tiger Dogs”
Admit it: Are you dressing your pet up for Halloween? Tell us in the comments.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond
WHAT: A former landfill that became a park managed by East Bay Regional Park District. It’s a multi-use open space that welcomes recreational off-leash dog walking, windsurfing, kayaking, picnicking, fishing, bird watching, and other activities. Cycling within Point Isabel isn’t allowed, but the Bay Trail wraps around it and there are bike racks at the west end of the park.
IF YOU GO: Park is open daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking is free. A dog washing/nail clipping service (Mudpuppy) and a cafe with light snacks (Sit and Stay) are at 1 Isabel St.
PIDO: The Point Isabel Dog Owners group is a nonprofit with an estimated more than 7,000 members. It works with the park district to keep the park off-leash, safe, clean and stocked with doggy waste bags.
Third place for the Small Dogs went to Luna, the Pup-O-Noodles.