CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — An annual event that gets dogs riding the waves in Carolina Beach is helping to save animals that wind up in shelters that euthanize.

The Surf Dog Experience takes place every summer to raise money for Freedom Bridge Animal Rescue, an organization that rescues dogs and places them with fosters until they find their forever home.

What You Need To Know

  • The Surf Dog Experience raised almost $4,000 for Freedom Bridge Animal Rescue 
  • The event gets dogs riding the waves with a little help from their human friends 
  • This year was the eighh annual event in Carolina Beach

Patti Helmbassett works for the organization, and it’s how she found Lil Bit.

Lil Bit was found in a ditch in Bladen County and rescued by Freedom Bridge. 

“We were supposed to foster her, and we failed. Her name was actually Elizabeth, and that didn't work. So I called her a Little Bit and that stuck,” Helmbassett said. 

Lil Bit has been surfing in the Surf Dog Experience for the last seven years. 

“A woman had registered, lived in Raleigh, registered her dog, her dog unfortunately passed away and she donated the registration. And that's how Little Bit got involved the first time,” Helmbassett said. 

Lil Bit and the other dogs surf with the help of lifeguards and surfers. They will get on the board with the dog and hold a harness so the dog doesn’t fall in. 

This year's event raised almost $4,000 for Freedom Bridge.

Helmbassett says Lil Bit hates her parents' swimming pool but loves to surf and be in the ocean. 

“She likes it, she’ll hang on with her feet like this. She doesn't like when she falls off and falls into the water," Helmbassett said. "Well, when she's out there, she's pretty calm and she has a good time out there.”