“Reckless and Irresponsible”: Surfer With Big Dog on Board Divides the Community

Surfing is a unique sport that has steadily gained popularity through the decades. Legendary surfers like Kelly Slater have said that the sport unites people from all walks of life. However, not just people but surfing is one of the few sports that pet owners can enjoy with their pets. Over the years, dog surfing has become quite popular. However, when a video of a surfer with a big dog onboard surfaced on Facebook, it left the community divided.

Dog surfing first emerged in the 1920s. The entertaining sport has two kinds of events; one where the dog surfs alone and the second where the dog surfs with its trainer. Over the years, the sport has advanced to the point where the animals can even perform tricks while surfing. In 2016, the World Dog Surfing Championships began.

What the video shows

The video shows the man and the dog leashed securely to the surfboard, riding a massive wave. The man used a paddle to ride the swell, and the dog didn’t lose balance during the maneuver. However, it is hard to pinpoint the exact breed of the dog.

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The Facebook page, Surfing Community, posted the video of the surfer with his dog on their public Facebook group Surfing Soul Club. The Surfing Community captioned the video, “A man’s best friend.” However, the post has split the community, as people couldn’t agree with one another in the comments section.

Reckless or calculated? The surfing community can’t agree

Some people saw nothing wrong with the video, while others thought it was irresponsible. “Too big to have a dog on your board, reckless and irresponsible.”, wrote one user. “I personally think that this is animal cruelty. Poor thing must of been terrified,” wrote another. One user asked, “What happens to the dog if you eat sh**/get pounded on a wave that size?”

Other users agreed with the commenters. “Their bodies don’t seem to be designed for that.”, one group member wrote. “In most relationships, they develop complete trust in their owners. It’s a breach of that trust.”, another group member commented.

However, others didn’t find anything wrong with the man’s actions. “Surfing with two leashes: better safe than sorry,” wrote a user. Another user defended the man, “You wouldn’t know unless you have tried and have a dog that just lives to surf w you! I don’t see that dog tied down on his board…..and sure he feels the rush like any surfer does.”

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What do you feel about the video? Let us know in the comments.