Dock Diving Dogs Make A Splash: Photos, Video

PECONIC, NY — The threat of soggy skies didn't put a damper on the spirited pups and their enthusiastic humans who turned out Saturday for the 2nd Annual North Fork Dock Diving Pet Festival and fundraiser in Peconic.

Harbor Pet and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company have joined paws once again to host the event, which takes place again on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., located at 42155 Main Road in Peconic.

"DockDogs® is the largest and most diversified presenter of dock diving Dog Performance Sports in the world. Blue Buffalo is the presenting sponsor and this weekend event will benefit the Guide Dog Foundation," organizers said.

The event almost went to the dogs, after the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company saw its request for a special event permit denied by the Southold zoning board of appeals— but, after a public hearing in Town Hall, the Southold town board voted to grant the appeal submitted by applicant Rich Vandenburgh, co-owner of the brewery.

According to the town board, Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley raised concerns about the event, specifically centered on parking concerns. At last year's event, many who attended parked their vehicles along New York State Route 25, or tried to park on town-owned parcels at the Peconic Recreation or Community Centers.

This year, Vandenburgh said, directional signage would once again be put up telling visitors not to park on Route 25 or in town lots — and on Saturday, those signs were in evidence.

Mobile mapping assistance sent guests to two offsite lots — one across the street at the former First Class Auto Body site, and another at the Wesnofske Farm in Peconic, which can hold, together, about 150 to 180 cars — and a social media campaign on Instagram and Facebook would educate those attending on where to park and how to use the shuttles, Vandenburgh said.

The shuttles, he added, were slated to run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

After Saturday's event, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell commented: "Everything went smoothly. The offsite parking was well marked so it was easy to find for event-goers. The owner made a concerted effort to make sure the roads were clear, there we no unsafe conditions and any impacts were mitigated. It was very well-run."

For a schedule of Dock Diving event times on Sunday, click here.

In addition to watching the dogs compete, guests enjoyed pet vendors, pet experts — and brews, too.

Featured dogs at the event included Tango, from Long Island, who averaged a 22' jump into the pool last year and travels the country to compete at many DockDog events, a release said.

The pet friendly event is free for spectators.

"We wanted this event to benefit local organizations that mean a lot to us here on the North Fork and Long Island," said Kimberly Loper, owner of Harbor Pet in Greenport, which co-sponsors the event, last year.

"Our event will bring in businesses from all around the area, help support local and island-wide non-profit organizations and we'll get to see dogs fly through the air and splash in the pool," said Vandenburgh, before the first competition.

A similar event took place in Westhampton Beach in 2016.

Photos, video by Lisa Finn.