Cruises on the Bay™ by Watermark®’s Harbor Queen went to the dogs on Thursday, July 18th for the “Dog Days of Summer Cruise.” Around 75 people and over 50 dogs stepped onboard the iconic Annapolis boat for a barking good time cruising on the beautiful Severn River, plied with treats from Graul’s Market and music by Orlando Phillips. A silent auction generated funds for our SPCA in addition to a donation from Watermark. Dogs kept cool in the summer heat with dips in baby pools on Harbor Queen’s top deck and a few human passengers were even spotted dipping in their toes too.
“We always welcome dogs on board our vessels so this was an especially fun cruise for the community, the AACSPCA and our crew,” says Debbie Gosselin, President of Watermark, “and the parade of dogs walking down City Dock after the cruise grabbed a lot of attention for the SPCA. We look forward to hosting more fundraiser cruises for the SPCA in the future.” The event brought out dog lovers from around the Annapolis area and even drew in some visitors to Annapolis who walked up to Harbor Queen and thought a dog friendly cruise would be a doggone good time.
A young girl visiting with her family from Florida enjoyed handing out sausages to the canine passengers including one dog whose owner brought him on the cruise to celebrate his 1st birthday on a boat. SPCA volunteers handed out leis for the dogs, golden retrievers enjoyed the breeze on the bow and a hound dog announced his arrival with authority. A mix of dogs from small to large – from chihuahua to St. Bernards and everything in between – socialized on Harbor Queen’s two decks while their human companions enjoyed the summer evening and a margarita or two. A good time was had by all two legged and four legged guests!
The Anne Arundel County SPCA is a private, non-profit animal welfare organization. The SPCA receives no funding from city, county, state, or federal government. They are supported by private donations.
For more information about Cruises on the Bay by Watermark, visit http://cruisesonthebay.com.
