Coast Guard, National Park Service and East Bay SPCA Team Up to Address Beach Safety

From U.S. Coast Guard District 11 Public Affairs:

In an effort to raise beach safety awareness, the Coast Guard, the National Park Service, and the East Bay SPCA are teaming up to help educate dog owners and beach goers about the hazards they face on the Northern California beaches at the Oakland facility of the East Bay SPCA, Friday, Feb. 1.

This initiative is part of an ongoing public service campaign to help raise awareness for everyone who enjoys the beach.

Winter is an especially dangerous time for beach goers, and these last few months have proven particularly deadly. There have been five deaths since November, and all of those deaths involved someone on the beach with their dog.

The Coast Guard, the National Park Service, and the East Bay SPCA wants everyone to stay safe while on the beach. We are requesting the help of the media to spread the word. 

• WHO: Allison Lindquist, executive director of the East Bay SPCA; Alexandra Picavet, public affairs officer of National Park Service Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Petty Officer Pamela J. Boehland, public affairs, U.S. Coast Guard

• WHAT: The speakers will address several issues regarding beach safety. This includes hazards that you and your dog face while walking along the Northern California coast, what to do if your dog gets swept out to sea, and how to swim out of a rip current. 

• WHERE: Oakland East Bay SPCA (8323 Baldwin St., Oakland)

• WHEN: Friday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.

RSVP by calling Coast Guard Petty Officer Pamela J. Boehland (510) 735-6758, or Laura Fulda, of the East Bay SPCA, (510) 563-4611, by 6 p.m. Thursday.