Surf City USA Named DogTown USA® by Dog Fancy Magazine

Huntington Beach, California (Vocus) July 10, 2009 -- Surf City USA (http://www.surfcityusa.com/) announced today that they have been named "DogTown USA" in the category "medium-sized cities" by Dog Fancy magazine, the world's most widely read dog magazine. The magazine researches cities each year after a public nomination period to discover cities that "receive dogs with open arms and provide them with the joys of life," according to Dog Fancy magazine editor Susan Chaney.

This isn't the first time Huntington Beach has been recognized for their friendliness toward canine companions: Huntington Beach was a runner-up in the 2008 DogTown USA competition. San Diego and Carmel-by-the-Sea were honored in the large and small city categories, providing California with a clean-sweep of this year's awards.

Chaney will travel to Huntington Beach to present this top honor at the city's July 20 City Council meeting, where she will present the DogTown USA honor to City of Huntington Beach Mayor Keith Bohr, along with donation check for $2,000 to Martin Senate, president of Preservation Society of Huntington Dog Beach.

Beach Fun for Dogs and their Buddies (http://www.surfcityusa.com/california-beach-vacations/dog-beach.aspx)

Huntington Beach was nominated for the award jointly by City staff and the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau (HBMVB). Criteria used to select the winning city included plenty of dog-friendly open spaces and dog parks, events celebrating dogs and their owners, high vet-to-dog ratios, abundant pet supply and other services, and municipal laws that support and protect all pets. According to Chaney, Huntington Beach excelled in all of those areas, and more.

In addition to this upcoming weekend's ''Surfin' Paws Dog Jam'' and semi-monthly Dachshund Races at Old World Village, Huntington Beach looks forward to the Surf City Surf Dog event on October 11. The City's most famous canine attraction, however, is the one-and-one-quarter-mile Huntington Dog Beach, a dog-friendly beach where dogs are allowed to run leash-free in the surf.

According to HBMVB President Steve Bone, "Dog Beach is over a mile of pooch paradise for running, playing, swimming, digging, sunbathing and even for some surfing. Volunteers help maintain cleanup of the sand and shoreline on Dog Beach, making the beach one of the cleanest and safest beaches in California."

"What's more," Bone adds, "Huntington Beach offers Canine Cuisine at Park Bench Café, specialty shops, and upscale dog-pampering hotels, and even a 'Doggie Bus.'"

Huntington Beach Dog Attractions:

- Huntington Dog Beach, DogBeach.org

- Surfin' Paws Dog Jam, July 11, 2009: SurfinPaws.com

- Surf City Surf Dog, October 11, 2009: SurfCitySurfDog.com

- Dachshund Races at Old World Village, WienerDogStore.com

- Doggie Bus, DoggieBus.com

- Barking Dog Menu at Park Bench Café, ParkBenchCafe.com/dog_menu.htm

- Huntington Beach Dog Beach video (http://www.surfcityusa.com/california-photos/video-gallery.aspx): This video really gives you a feel of our laid-back, dog friendly lifestyle in Huntington Beach. It is also the most-downloaded video on the SurfCityUSA.com website, with over 300 downloads per month.

- Dog-Friendly Accommodations in Huntington Beach: Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, WaterfrontResort.com; Shorebreak Hotel, ShorebreakHotel.com; Extended Stay Suites, ExtendedStayHotels.com

High-resolution photographs are available upon request.

About the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau

The Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau (AKA Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau) is the official destination marketing organization of Huntington Beach, Surf City USA®. One of Southern California's premier coastal destinations (http://www.surfcityusa.com/california-beach-vacations/default.aspx), Huntington Beach is the ideal location for a California family vacation (http://www.surfcityusa.com/california-vacation/sample_itinerary.aspx) or relaxing weekend getaway.

With 8.5 miles of wide-open white sand California beaches, Huntington Beach (http://www.surfcityusa.com/) is a destination of choice for vacationers and business travelers alike. To plan your Surf City USA® vacation, or to learn more about Huntington Beach, visit the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau website at www.surfcityusa.com or call 800-729-6232 for a free Visitors Guide.

Surf City USA® is a registered mark of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau.

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