The World Dog Surfing Championships Exhibition Tour is coming to the south side of the Pismo Beach Pier on Saturday, May 2 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The World Championships for Dog Surfing are based on the California coast, where the concept for the sport originated, bringing together the best dog surfing talent. Dog surfers are invited to bring home the gold for charity, so this competition is not only for fun but it is for a great cause! Come see the world’s most talented surfing dogs compete for the top dog spot. During the event there will be several activities including the surf competition, partner tents and more.
If you are animal lover you might want to also visit the other unique animal sanctuaries we have right here on the Central Coast, including llamas, donkeys and turtles.
At the Loving Llama Wellness Ranch in the foothills of San Luis Obispo, guests can enjoy outdoor yoga classes, woodfired sauna, cold plunges, and sound baths all set amongst the serene landscapes with gentle resident llamas roaming around the yoga decks. Sweat in the woodfired sauna with great views and then refresh your body and mind with an invigorating cold plunge beneath the open SLO sky and soak in the benefits of local spring water with revitalizing minerals. Baby and mother llamas enjoy munching hay from guests’ hands during the relaxing wellness experience.
The Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary is a 46-acre property providing specialized lifetime care in a state-of-the-art environment, ensuring every resident lives a life of dignity and peace. Through workshops, events, tours, and education, they share the gentle nature and healing power of their rescue donkeys with guests. They strive to bring people together and create a sense of belonging and connection within the community and are deeply committed to making a positive impact by rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing a permanent sanctuary for abused, abandoned, and neglected donkeys and mules. Their resident donkeys have found their forever home and are not available for adoption, but many events and workshops invite guests to enjoy their sweet presence. Check their schedule of events for your next trip to the central coast.
The Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande has been helping turtles, tortoises and other animals in need since 1992 and offers tours that enable guests to get up close to a number of animals and ecosystems on their 5-acre ranch. They provide critters with a wide array of food, shelter, medicine, and care that they need to thrive. The ranch is home to over 300 animals at any given time, many coming from neglected homes, indoor environments, or other harmful situations, with a handful of endangered and protected species. Each pen has been designed to be species-specific, with plants and structures similar to wild habitats for the most ideal quality of life. While some animals are there to stay, others are provided a temporary home while they heal before releasing them back into their natural habitat or adoption. They have over 12 ponds fed by underground springs and naturally filtered by pond cabbage. Some ponds are home to water-dwelling turtles, while others house koi and goldfish. Solar panels provide the energy for the heat pads in the reptiles’ enclosures as well as power for their heating and lighting systems. They grow most of the animal’s food themselves including mulberry leaves, cactus pads, cactus prickly pears, hibiscus flowers, and grape leaves. They have an extremely large diversity of succulents and trees, with a number of fruit trees such as lemons, grapefruit, apples, and pears. Schedule a tour of the ranch during your next visit which is currently by appointment only.
The central California coast has many unique activities and events to explore during your next visit to Pismo Beach, especially for animal lovers.