Calling All "Pupparazzi:" Helen Woodward Animal Center Announces Celebrity Judges For The Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon Presented By Eukanuba

Event Features 9/11 Tribute, Surf Dog Competition, Canine Costume Contest and more than 70 Vendors!

DEL MAR, Calif., Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The largest surfing dog contest in the country just got bigger with the addition of several celebrity judges to the lineup. Tyana Alvarado from NBC's The Apprentice, Craig Silke from ABC's The Mole,  Dennis Luciani from NBC's Average Joe, Mark Munoz and Michael Munoz from CBS' Amazing Race and Gillian Larson from CBS's Survivor will be judging events at Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon presented by Eukanuba on September 11, 2011 at Dog Beach in Del Mar.

The sixth annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon runs  from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a  9/11 tribute to police and search and rescue dogs as well as more than 80 dogs hitting the waves to raise awareness of and money for orphaned pets. The event also features a Canine Costume Contest; Doo the Dah, where people and pets in costumes surf together; more than 70 vendor booths; and the induction of the first dog into the HWAC Surf Dog Hall of Fame.

The Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon kicks off at 8 a.m. with a 9/11 tribute honoring all of the dogs involved in the search and rescue efforts following the events of September 11, 2001 – the largest deployment of search dogs in U.S. history.

At 8:30 a.m., the competition begins. Internet sensations Riccochet, Nani, Dozer, and Buddy join their canine friends to compete in four weight classes. Winners from each category are invited back to surf in the "Best in Surf" at 1 p.m. The Surf Dog competition is judged by top riders from Volcom, other pros and surfing aficionados.

At 10 a.m. the Costume Contest kicks off with celebrity judges Tyana Alvarado, Craig Silke and Dennis Luciani. Doo the Dah starts at 11:20 a.m. when both people and their pets take to the waves in costume, performing stunts judged by Mark Munoz, Michael Munoz and Gillian Larson. At 1:30 the event concludes with an awards ceremony honoring the top dogs of the day as well as the first inductee into the Surf Dog Hall of Fame.

For more information about the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, visit www.surfdog.kintera.org or call 858-756-4117.

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center