Dog Days of Summer

Reward your good boys and girls — dogs, of course, with a special day out. After a long summer traveling with days out of the house away from your pooch, Doggie Dash is a great way to show some pup-appreciation.

Doggie Dash Guests © Morey’s Piers

Wildwood, New Jersey, goes to the dogs, literally, during Morey’s Pier’s annual event, Sept. 8. Guests arrive with their pups for a festival of dog-centric events, kicking off with a 5K fun run and one-mile beach race alongside Raging Waters Water Park.

The fastest runners and participants — person and pooch alike — win a dog-tag finisher’s medal, official doggie dash leash and t-shirt. You pick who gets what.

Doggie Dash Guests © Morey’s Piers

Relax on the beach after the race, or stroll down the boardwalk for more family-friendly fun and games and cool off at the water park. Doggie Dash participants pay a $10 Splash admission and enjoy private access to the park with fellow runners, 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Stick around for the annual puppy pool party, 12–5 p.m., Raging Waters “Water Bark, with nine different hour-long sessions over the course of the day accommodating more dogs. With the waterpark closing for the season, dogs have free rein to swim, play and race through the fountain and activity pool.

Doggie Dash Guests © Morey’s Piers

Refuel after your run and jaunt around the waterpark at the PigDog Beach Bar. The dog-and family-friendly beach bar opens 10 a.m.–6 p.m. serving kids, pups and everyone in between. Dig into some barbecue and enjoy local brews and craft cocktails with the older kids.

Doggie Dash Guests © Morey’s Piers

Attend an hour of the pup party and festivities at the waterpark as a spectator for $10 or bring a dog for $25. Upgrade to $35–45 for runners with or without a dog in the Doggie Dash race, or add on with pool party entry for yourself ($35) or with your dog ($45). Each dog must have a designated handler.

All this money talk not only pays your way to a fun family day at the beach, but also benefits Team Foster. The non-profit organization helps veterans suffering from combat-related disabilities match up with a specialized care dog.

Of every registered runner, $5 is donated to Team Foster and covers costs to obtain, care for and train dogs for veterans in need.