The Canine Co-Captains of Sea Tow – Dogster

It is a dark and eerie night on the water, and you’re stranded in a boat that’s having engine problems. You wonder, “Who will come to my rescue and tow me back to town?” Have no fear — the dogs of Sea Tow are here! These pups and their professionally trained human co-captains aid thousands of boaters in need each year.

Sea Tow is a membership service that provides on-water assistance up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coast, Southern California and select inland lakes. Sea Tow has a 24/7 dispatch and can get to the boat in trouble in one hour or less and provide services such as fuel deliveries, jump starts, ungroundings, prop disentanglements and even boat repairs right on the water.

No matter what body of water you are boating on, there is a Sea Tow location with a dog co-captain close by. For example, in Massachusetts, there is a fox-red Labrador Retriever named Cooper at Sea Tow Cape and Islands. At Sea Tow in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, there is a yellow Lab named Tuna. Then at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, location, there is a 9-month-old Golden Retriever named Skipper. These dogs are ready to help! In fact, for the boaters, these canines are more recognizable than the Sea Tow employees.

Another dog who might be part of your rescue crew is Birdie, from Sea Tow Manasquan, which covers central New Jersey’s Atlantic coastline. This 3-year-old Weimaraner takes her job seriously. While her owner and captain Tim Sanzone is tending to the needs of the boat, Birdie is always up to the task of being kind, being friendly by wagging her tail and providing a sense of comfort to the stranded boaters.

According to Captain Sanzone, the general manager of Sea Tow Manasquan, Birdie is “a fearless companion and one of the friendliest dogs I have ever had. She loves other dogs and children and never leaves my side. She is filled with energy and life and never misses the opportunity to go on a boat ride.”

When Birdie isn’t busy helping stranded boaters, she enjoys taking a swim, hanging out with her mom Stacey (Tim’s wife) and eating her favorite food, watermelon.

Every boater hopes they’ll never have to experience maritime problems and need to call for help. If the unthinkable does happen, hopefully when help arrives one of these adorable Sea Tow dogs will be on board to save the day!

Follow Birdie’s adventures on Facebook @SeaTowManasquan.