< PreviousFrom the EditorThis month marks the second time we’ve dedicated an issue to dogs. Contrary to assertions by staffers and some readers, I have nothing against cats. I own three of them and respect them for their aloof self-interest and unwillingness to play along. But to assuage any doubts among cat lovers, Coast Monthly promises to de-vote a page of reader-submitted photos of beloved cats in a future issue. So, please send your favorite coastal cat photos to feedback@coastmonthly.com.Now, back to dogs. Dogs, more so than cats, are inclined to cooperate on photo shoots. And who can resist watching one bound through the surf on the beach? In our feature story on coastal canines, we meet some fascinating dogs that make the most of the coast. They run on the beach, surf and boat, pull sleds on the sand or find joy catching trout. Some of these canines, including cover model Bentley, were rescues. We admire the people in these pages who gave second chances to dogs that had some difficult starts in life.Although all of our featured dogs were well-behaved and cooperated during the photo shoots, the weather did not. The sky was dark and it was raining when we headed to Galveston Island State Park to shoot the cover. We almost rescheduled, but staff photographer Stuart Villanueva persevered, giving us an artful and dra-matic cover photo that captures the wild beauty of the beach and a regal pose by Bentley.In this issue, we also feature good food, beautiful homes and gardens, skilled craftspeople, musicians and more.Happy dog days of summer.Laura ELdErCoast Monthly Editordog days of summErspEciaL ThanksCoast Monthly would like to extend a special thanks to staff at the Galves-ton Island State Park for help with our cover shoot and with our feature on the park’s after-dark programs. Special thanks goes to Park Superintendent Trey Goodman and Lisa Reznicek, a ranger at the park.The park, 14901 FM 3005 in Galveston, offers camping, bird watch-ing, nature study, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and unsupervised beach swimming. Educational tours of the flora and fauna of the beach and bay areas of the park are given by appointment only. Contact the park, 409-737-1222, to make arrangements. Visit https://fogisp.wordpress.com/ to learn more about volunteering with the group Friends of Galveston Island State Park.Longboard givEawayAlso, we’d like to thank Ohana Surf & Skate, 28th and Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, for the use of the longboard featured in Behind the Wheel on Page 90.Ohana Surf & Skate has generously donated the longboard for a giveaway to a deserving Coast Monthly reader. Tell us why you deserve this longboard, and it could be yours. Send your sub-mission to laura.elder@galvnews.com by Aug. 15.Winners must live in the region and be willing to pick up the longboard at the The Daily News office in Galves-ton. We’ll announce the winner in our September issue.10 coasTmonThLy.com / AUGUST 2015TEXAS PROPERTIES SUE JOHNSON, GRI409.682.9050 • sue@heritagetexas.com • SueJohnsonGalveston.comHonored 4 Times by theHouston Business JournalHonored by H Magazine2013 & 2014Heritage Texas PropertiesTop ProducerReal Trends 2014 Top 250 Real Estate Professional for Closed TransactionsCurrently ranked among the Top 3 Producers on Galveston Island for Dollar Volume & Number of Closed Transactions!NEW LISTING!ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900409.737.4000 | 13655 FM 3005, Suite B (Physical) | 4121 Pirates Beach (Mailing) | Galveston, Texas 77554 | heritagetexas.comISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900Pirates Beach - $649,9004022 Mutiny CourtBeachside Village - $1,150,00011610 BeachsidePirates Beach - $295,00013921 Pirates Beach Blvd.Pirates Beach - $319,0004106 Pirates Alley CourtIsla del Sol - $549,9003916 Bridge Harbor DriveJamaica Beach - $ 329,00016610 Jamaica Beach Rd.In Town - $429,0005901 Avenue TIsla del Sol - $335,0004217 Isla del Sol DriveGalveston Outlots - $199,9991823 27th StreetIsla Del Sol - $444,90022409 Bay VistaSea Isle - $174,9004026 KentPirates Beach - $639,9004231 Maison RougeSea Isle - $294,50022012 San Luis PassFEATURED LISTING!4101 Fiddler CrabPirates Beach - $499,900Indian Beach - $675,00018318 E. DeVacaSea Isle - $279,0004210 LIBERTYREDUCEDREDUCEDREDUCEDREDUCEDPirates Beach - $339,90013822 Pirates Beach Blvd.REDUCEDFeedbackWe asked readers to send their favorite photos of their dogs playing on the beach or in the water. Here are a few of them.Photo by John SinitierePhoto by AnJA borSkiPhoto by roSelyn Pierce-ShirleyPhoto by kAthy De VrieS Photo by tAylor burleyPhoto by JoyliShA lloyDPhoto by kAtherine beckerPhoto by rAnDAll PeltierPhoto by Summer m. QADDumiPhoto by eSther mckennA Photo by lAuren WernerPhoto by mAry mAccAllumPhoto by lynn mcmullinPhoto by Sherry boyDPhoto by Vicki birDPhoto by mArilyn lueDtkePhoto by PAtrick JAmeSPhoto by hAley crummettPhoto by chriStine broWnhillPhoto by StAn conley12 coAStmonthly.com / AUGUST 2015A partnership with businesses to conserveGalveston Island’s natural resources.These businesses collect contributions to conserve and enhance public access to Galveston Island’s naturalresources through a 1% donation automatically added to your bill. Your donation will be used to acquireland for conservation and create public amenities for the enjoyment of Galveston’s natural resourcesfor generations to come. If you choose not to participate, you may “opt out” prior to payment.Look for the 1% logo where you shop, stay, eat or play, and show our partnersyou appreciate their commitment to Galveston’s natural resources.For more information about 1% To Conserve Galveston Islandcall 409-770-0219 • www.toconservegalvestonisland.org1% To Conserve Galveston Island™ is a program of the Artist Boat, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.To the business partners helping us conserve Galveston’s natural resources.Business Partners:THANK YOUPhoto by Jim OlivePhotographyG. Lee Gallerywww.gleegallery.net409-370-73502215 Post Office Street,Galveston, TX 77550Brax Easterwood Designwww.beaia.com409-354-89762728 Avenue Q, Suite 2,Galveston, TX 77550Latitude Home Serviceswww.latitudehomeservices.com409-392-8017K&E Klean 4 Uwww.keklean4u.com409-750-2342The Kitchen Chickwww.thekitchenchick.com409-497-2999528 23rd Street, Galveston, TX 77550Oasis Juice Bar & Marketwww.oasisjuicebar.com409-762-8446409 25th Street, Galveston, TX 77550Galveston Island Park Board of Trusteeswww.galvestonparkboard.org409-797-51442328 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77550The Yoga Havenwww.theyogahaven.net409-770-99952507 Market Street, Galveston, TX 77550Gigi’s Pampered Petswww.facebook.com/GigisPamperedPetsGrooming409-539-8002120 20th Street, Galveston, TX 77550The Witcherywww.witcheryonline.com409-515-06692116 Post Office Street,Galveston, TX 77550Clay Cup Studioswww.claycupstudios.com409-762-25292201 Market Street, Galveston, TX 77550Outrageous Boutique941-587-4538405 22nd Street, Galveston, TX 77550Gulf Coast Renewable Resourceswww.gulfcoastrenewableresources.com409-766-0208Speedy’s Printingwww.speedysprinting.com409-763-1666715 24th Street, Galveston, TX 77550Urban Resortwww.urbanresorthome.com409-433-5410411 25th Street, Galveston, TX 77550Upholstery Plus Fabricswww.greatupholstery.com409-502-19402228 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77550Cottage on14th Streethttp://www.vrbo/336445Economy Liquor Galvestonwww.economyliquorgalveston.com409-763-60911911 23rd St., Galveston &16708 D San Luis Pass Rd,Jamaica Beach TX Island Brainworks L.L.C.www.islandbrainworks.com409-599-72682220 Post Office Street,Galveston, TX 77550Affaire D’Art Gifts and Gallerywww.affairedart.com409-539-53572317 Strand, Galveston, TX 77550Katie’s Seafood Marketwww.katiesseafoodmarket.com409-763-81601902 Wharf Road, Galveston, TX 77550Blue Water Grill & Ignoble Pizzeriawww.facebook.com/bluewatergrillgalveston.com409-974-493416708 San Luis Pass Road, Galveston, TX 77550Sunflower Bakery & Cafewww.thesunflowerbakeryandcafe.com409-763-5500512 14th Street, Galveston, TX 77550Happy Pretty Youwww.happyprettyyou.com409-765-55051615 23rd Street, Galveston, TX 77550FeaturesThey surf, catch fish and love long runs on the beach. Some even pull sleds on the sand. Dogs dwelling on the Texas Coast, including those who have overcome difficult starts in life, have lifestyles most hu-mans would envy. Coast Monthly caught up with a few four-legged lovers of life by the sea. BentleyIn March 2013, Bentley, a vizsla breed, joined Tristan and Sara Cahill’s family at their island home. Bentley was 6 years old and had been removed from a home in North Texas. He carried a lot of emotional baggage, Sara Cahill said.“He was standoffish, skittish and slightly aggressive,” she said. “He fought constantly with Rezi, our then 2-year-old vizsla, and displayed aggression to both Tristan and myself. His previous own-ers were so anxious to be rid of him they insisted the rescue organization sign a contract relinquishing themselves of all responsibilities involving Bentley. Bentley was going to be our first (and last) foster dog through Texas Vizsla Rescue, and we were determined to make him feel safe and loved.” Bentley’s first three weeks with the couple were very long, Sara Cahill said.“On more than one occasion, I was ready to throw in the towel and admit that he was damaged beyond our repair and would never trust either of us, or get along with Rezi,” she said. “We had to all but abandon sweeping our house because the sight of a broom would send him run-ning up the stairs to hide. He ran from dog toys and flinched when he watched us play fetch with Rezi. “A turning point came one morn-ing about six weeks in, when I walked into the kitchen with a broom, thinking Bentley was outside. He stared at the broom but instead of running away he just stood there and waited. I lowered the broom to the ground and sat on the floor and waited. Eventually, he made his way across the kitchen, sniffed the broom and Coastal CaninesFour-legged friends love cavorting on the beach and the laid-back island life14 CoastMontHly.CoM / AUGUST 2015Bentley, a vizsla breed, sits on the beach at the Galveston Island State Park. The rescue dog had a troubled past, but his dark days are behind him thanks to owners Tristan and Sara Cahill. Bentley enjoys long runs on the beach and around the island.Photo by Stuart VillanueVaFeatureseventually crawled into my lap. That af-ternoon, I emailed the rescue organization and asked if we could keep him.”Bentley has developed into a gentle, loving and playful dog, she said. She attributes Bentley’s progress to exercise, which includes long runs on the beach and around the island. His favorite beach activity is chasing sand crabs, she said.“Vizslas not only crave exercise, like many dogs, but truly require it,” she said. “When we started, he couldn’t run half a mile without stopping, which is pretty ter-rible for a dog that is bred for endurance. We’ve given him — and us — plenty of breaks and over the last two years he has gradually worked up to over 6 miles. He is a more well behaved, more attentive and less destructive dog because of it.” Sara Cahill said she’s occasionally reminded that Bentley still has lingering bad memories. “Just earlier this week, I leaned down too quickly to scratch his head and he flinched away, but as time goes on, the rate of these incidents has decreased,” she said. “Bentley has taught us, especially me, more patience than I thought possi-ble, and his gratefulness shows every day in his loyal personality. I can’t imagine our family without him.”ReziRezi has been a part of Tristan and Sara Cahill’s family since she was 4 months old. “She is so loving, expressive and adven-turous,” Sara Cahill said. “Tristan and I joke that one day, she’s just going to start using words because her mannerisms and expressions speak louder than most humans we know. Her independent spirit challenges us and her need to run keeps us both active and on our toes. She’s ter-ribly spoiled but — usually — maintains her manners and once she warms up to you, you’ll never have free lap space again.” Photo by KonRad Johnson, www.KonRadJohnson.netBentley and Rezi may look mild-mannered, but don’t be fooled. Their need to run keeps their owners Tristan and Sara Cahill active and on their toes.16 CoastMonthLy.CoM / AUGUST 2015FeaturesBaBsDoggie paddling takes on a whole new meaning for Babs, the surfing bulldog. Named for former first lady Barbara Bush, this rescue pet is a full-figured, 6-year-old female with an adven-turous spirit. “Babs will try anything,” said her owner Cat Cessac, who also is office manager of Galveston Is-land Humane Society. “She can’t swim, but there’s no way I can keep her out of the water; she just loves it.” And, yes, Babs wears a life jacket while participating in all water-related sports. Babs is a high-fashion girl and prefers Cessac decorate her life jacket. She has dozens of outfits to don for special occasions.Babs is somewhat of a ce-lebrity about town. Passers-by were quick to give a shout out to Cessac’s pampered pet during a recent interview at Starbuck’s on 61st Street in Galveston, where the servers not only know her name but bring her favorite snack — appropriately named “Puppy Whip” — out to the patio. What’s next on Babs’s bucket list? “I want to teach her to work a skateboard,” Cessac said. “Seems like a natural progression to me.” Cessac cautions that bulldogs are particularly sensitive to heat and asks pet owners to provide water and shade to any animal spending time outdoors. Although Babs has never placed in a surf dog competition, she’s a regular at the annual Ohana Surf & Skate Surf Dog Competition held on the island each summer to benefit Galves-ton Island Humane Society. But celebrity hasn’t gone to Babs’s head.“Babs is humble, she remem-bers where she came from,” Cessac said.Photo By Jennifer reynoldsCat Cessac’s bulldog Babs catches a wave near the Historic Galveston Island Pleasure Pier.18 CoastMonthly.CoM / AUGUST 2015®THE FUTURE HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER.As we prepare for our 40th Anniversary, we’re proud to introduce the exciting new look of Heritage Texas Properties. A reflection of our innovation, diversity and unrivaled commitment to personalized service, our future has never looked better.GALVESTON OFFICE13655 FM 3005 (Physical) | 4121 Pirates Beach (Mailing) | Galveston, Texas 77554 | 409.737.4000EVIA | 8 MARINER PASS | $113,000Sallie Waters - 409.599.5333ISLA DEL SOL | 3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $549,900Linda Sivy - 409.599.5847BAYSIDE AT WATERMAN’S | 14334 STEWART RD | $1,350,000Cheryl Lewellen-Price - 409.939.0125TRIMBLE & LINDSEY | 12924 STEWART RD | $425,000Holly Wade - 409.996.9126PIRATES BEACH | 4101 FIDDLER CRAB | $499,900Sue Johnson - 409.682.9050heritagetexas.com Next >