Best Place To Take a Dog 

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• Photo By Ken Malcomson
• Rusty the Ridgeback admires the sunset at Moonstone Beach.

Beaches. Five of the top six answers were beaches, and that’s not counting the 13 people who simply voted for “the beach.” While we couldn’t figure out how to poll the dogs directly, we suspect they’d agree. Something about the sea air (perhaps the seagull carcasses?) brings out the slobbering, giddy dork that lives inside the canine soul. Taking the No. 1 spot this year is the ever-shifting sandscape of Moonstone Beach, just down the hill from Westhaven.

 One word of warning from Officer Norton with Humboldt County Animal Control: “The rule of thumb [on county beaches] is that if your dog is off leash, it must be under the owner’s complete control, either [through] voice or hand gestures.” Got that? No Cujo commandos.

 Best ‘Have these people met?’ answers: “Any place that doesn’t have terrified people,” and “Anywhere where the damn thing is on a leash.”

 Best answer from the dog’s perspective: “Hometown Buffet”

 -- Ryan Burns

The Breakdown: Moonstone Beach 12.7%, Samoa 8.9%, Clam Beach 5.9%, Mad River Beach 5.3%, Hiller Park 4.3%, Voter Turnout: 26th.