Congratulations Shadow, Rosie, Hakeem, Mac, and Dunbar (and to their owners) who completed and passed the Canine Good Citizen test at Point Isabel on July 23.

Dogs are evaluated on a non-competitive 10-skill test, such as recall and sitting and staying, that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their guardians. Guardians are asked to sign a pledge to take good care and be responsible for their dog’s health, safety and behavior. Dogs who didn’t pass all skills should hold their heads up high (of course they will). Keep practicing, attend a class or learn more about the CGC requirements (see Berkeley Humane).

Great thanks to our expert evaluator Pam Wu and to all of the PIDO volunteers who made the testing event rewarding for canines and humans alike. PIDO will offer this test again next year!

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Point Isabel was closed for two months. To open the park safely, East Bay Regional Park District made the bridge over the Hoffman channel, which connects Point Isabel with the north side, one-way-at-a-time because people crossing in opposite directions can’t stay six feet from one another. That change has now been made permanent on the narrow bridge. The pandemic showed that one-way-at-a-time offers benefits without being much of an Inconvenience. People rarely have to wait more than a minute to cross. Please be aware of groups of people walking together. Allow others time to finish crossing, and wait six feet back from the bridge entrance to give them and their dogs a little space.

A leading pet travel and lifestyle brand has just named Point Isabel Regional Shoreline as the best dog park in California. BringFido, a website and mobile apps that connect millions of pet owners around the globe with more than 500,000 pet friendly places, published a roundup of the best place in every state to let your best friend loose:

“Your pooch is invited to join the half million canines who visit Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Dog Park in Richmond every year. This huge space is one of the most epic dog parks in the U.S. and boasts more than 50 acres of land on the eastern edge of San Francisco Bay. Explore several looping trails that hug Hoffman Channel and offer scenic overlooks of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County and Brooks Island. After rolling around in the mud, Fido can clean up at the on-site Mud Puppy’s Tub and Scrub.”