(Petopia.tv did a great cruise video! Click to watch now!)

Hornblower’s Bow-Wow Cruise a Howling Success!

written by Mark Carlson

What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys? 100 dogs on a bay cruise.

On board the M/V Adventure Hornblower Bay

Cruise boat, the dogs were the stars of the show at the very first Bow Wow Brunch cruise.

The place was San Diego Bay on Sunday, September 20, 2009.

Normally Hornblower’s passenger list consisted of tourists, vacationers, families and people wanting to enjoy the picturesque vistas and warm sunny weather on the bay.

But that Sunday was different. The Bow Wow Brunch hosted 100 dogs of all breeds and their owners on a two-hour tour of the bay from Point Loma to Coronado. When I say ‘all breeds’ I mean it. Everything from Chihuahuas and Terriers, to Beagles and Welsh Corgis to German Shepherds and Great Danes were walking the gently rolling decks and salons of the cruise boat.

My wife and I enjoyed the cruise with our yellow Labrador, Musket. No detail was overlooked. As we stood on the pier waiting to board, volunteers passed down the line, filling water bowls for the thirsty dogs. After boarding we were each directed to our tables in the main salon and served champagne or Mimosas. The dogs were limited to water, but their comfort and appetites were indulged topside.

The buffet, a veritable cornucopia of succulent meats, sweet fruits, mouth-watering appetizers and shrimp, fresh-baked breads and incredible desserts awaited the passengers on the main deck.

The reader may wonder if the dogs, particularly the larger breeds were tempted by the wide display of tantalizing morsels. I’m sure they were. But I didn’t hear of a single incident.

The reason was obvious. The passengers were responsible dog owners, in many cases with show-quality dogs.

The four-legged swabbies never caused a fuss, and only gave the dog lovers on board a lot to talk about.

The staff serving drinks and pouring coffee skipped lightly over the pooches in the aisles and corridors, and I never heard a single yelp of pain from a trodden tail. We watched tiny Yorkshires playing with Retrievers and one amorous Beagle who determinedly tried to sniff the much too-high backside of a Great Dane, who was definitely not interested.

On the top deck under the cobalt-blue skies and cool breezes, a doggy buffet of healthy treats and tidbits awaited the canine seafarers. Musket was allowed to select a few of his most favorite treats, and we carried away a real ‘doggy bag’ for him. I will admit he would have lingered there a great deal longer if we hadn’t pulled him away. He was a bit food-driven.

As the boat cruised leisurely past the Sub Pier on Point Loma and the base at North Island towards the towering span of the Coronado Bridge, the dogs had fun, doing what dogs always did when they met one another. Some scampered about, a few lay down in the warm sun, and others made new friends.

The event was to benefit Helen Woodward Animal Center, and the brainchild of Rebecca Milkey of Hornblower Cruises.

“We’ve had a great relationship with Helen Woodward Center for eight years. The cruise was an offshoot of our annual ‘Pet Rescue Day on the Bay’explained Milkey, Director of Marketing. “Anyone who donated towels or blankets could bring their dogs on board the cruise. But this year we wanted to do something to raise money.” And thus was born the Bow Wow Brunch. “It required a little more forethought,” Milkey admitted with a smile. “We knew a lot of dogs would be on board, and the crew, used to serving passengers in the salon, would have to step over and around them. So we asked for volunteers to work the cruise.”

When asked about some of the other more delicate issues which could occur when a pack of dogs were allowed to walk about on the deck of a 165-foot excursion boat, Milkey laughed. “We contacted a company called Easy Turf, which manufactured a grass substitute. They provided a large square of it for the ‘Poop Deck,’ where the dogs could relieve themselves. Another volunteer was there to pick up. We also had a Vet Tech on board in case any dogs were bitten, but nothing serious happened,” she said, pride in her voice. “Kelly Johnson, the Event Manager was absolutely unflappable, and did a great job. The crew was terrific,” she added.

I asked her if she recalled any amusing incidents.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “A CBS executive had tickets, but as the date approached, he found he also had tickets to the Chargers game. Agonizing over the conflict, he finally gave the tickets to a pair of CBS receptionists and the leash to his dog, Molly. So at least Molly could attend.”

I’m sure the executive felt like kicking himself into the bay after the Chargers lost.

All the proceeds from the cruise were to benefit Helen Woodward Animal Center, an organization in north county which has for 30 years believed people help animals through trust, unconditional love, and respect, and works to create a legacy of caring. The Center inspires and teaches, locally and globally, the importance of the animal-human bond.

Many nursing homes and hospitals hosted Helen Woodward animals to foster love and healing with their animals.

I spoke to Trisha St. George, a Public Relations spokesperson for Helen Woodward Animal Center for her opinion of the event. “I was on board and thought it went wonderfully. Everybody deserves lot of praise for what they did,’ she said happily. “I hope we can do it again.”

When I asked Milkey if the Bow Wow Brunch Cruise would be repeated next year, she said she hoped it would. “Once the bugs are worked out. It’s such a good way to raise money for a wonderful organization and really brings dogs and animal lovers together.”

Hornblower Cruises deserves a lot of credit for hosting the event and this writer truly hopes it will be held every year.

As a passenger on the Maiden Voyage, so to speak, I could say with confidence where were no bugs.

Just a few fleas.

For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center, go to their website at: www.animalcenter.org

To contact Hornblower, go to: www.hornblower.com

written by contributing columnist: Mark Carlson