Dogs once again proved they are a cowboy’s best friend as they steered 200 cows through the streets of downtown San Diego Saturday without incident.

Herding dogs chase down a wayward cow at near the pedestrian bridge by the San Diego Convention Center.Photo by Chris Stone

On several occasions, frisky cows strayed out of formation during a cattle drive that looped through downtown in a tip of the hat to the 150th anniversary of the Gaslamp Quarter and the opening of San Diego County Fair.

“The dogs have the most control if something goes wrong,” said Sharon Tavaglione, one of about 40 cowboys and cowgirls who surrounded the cattle that included American Longhorns.

And indeed several herding dogs quickly rounded up the wayward 700-pound cows on the early morning four-mile romp, averting problems.

“They’re pretty quiet,” Tavaglione said before the ride of the Corriente cattle, which are used in rodeos in steer roping competitions. The older cows are used to traveling in trucks and doing promotional events, including ones in Pomona, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa.

About a dozen animal activists walked along the cattle drive, urging people not to eat beef and calling for humane treatment of animals.

Hundreds of curious people lined Harbor Drive, Fifth Avenue and Market Street to get photos and video to document the unusual event.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said onlooker Ruth Lucca. “Cattle coming down the main street right in front of the Cheesecake Factory and the Grand Hyatt. Really?

“I heard about it on the news and thought I would check this thing out. It was so well contained with the people riding the horses and the dogs.”

“They really had it corralled very well,” added Lucca, who already made her first trip to the fair Friday night after recently moving to San Diego.

Herding dogs move wayward steer back into place during a cattle drive through the Gaslamp Quarter. Photo by Chris Stone

’ progress and to avoid the cattle standing beside the track as the trolley passed.

Which is better than what happened in Costa Mesa.

Tavaglione recalled: “Before using the older roping steers, they brought some young feed lot cattle, and they were a little wild. They ran through the streets of Cost Mesa, but it was a long time ago.”

The San Diego County Fair runs through Tuesday, July 4; it is closed the first four Mondays and the first three Tuesdays.

The fair will feature a Wild West saloon, numerous Western-themed educational and historic exhibits and country music.

Longhorn and Corriente cattle wait in the pen before the cattle drive. (File photo by Chris Stone)
The cattle drive passes below the Gaslamp Quarter sign on Fifth Avenue. Photo by Chris Stone
Two hundred cows wait in the pen with the USS Midway in the background. Photo by Chris Stone
A wayward cow follows his own path on Harbor Drive at the beginning of the drive. Dogs led it back to the pack. Photo by Chris Stone
Animal activists walk along the route of the cattle drive on Harbor Drive. Photo by Chris Stone
An animal activist looks at a cowboy in the cattle drive while protesting. Photo by Chris Stone
Animal activists walk in front of the cattle drive along Harbor Drive. Photo by Chris Stone
Cowboys surround the cattle to keep them in line. Photo by Chris Stone
A cattle drive with 200 cows, 40 cowboys and herding cows pass the San Diego Convention Center. Photo by Chris Stone
A wayward cow slips on the road and collides with a horse that remained calm on the cattle drive through downtown. Photo by Chris Stone
Herding dogs move wayward steer back into place during a cattle drive through the Gaslamp Quarter. Photo by Chris Stone
Herding dogs steer wayward cow back into place during a cattle drive through the Gaslamp Quarter. Photo by Chris Stone
Hundreds of spectators capture the historic cattle drive in downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Spectators line the pedestrian bridge above Harbor Drive to get a look at the downtown cattle drive. Photo by Chris Stone
About 40 cowboys and cowgirls led the drive through the Gaslamp Quarter. Photo by Chris Stone
Herding dogs chase down a wayward cow near the pedestrian bridge by the San Diego Convention Center. Photo by Chris Stone
Howell brothers (from left) Evan, 2; James, 2; and Brooks, 4, got a kick out of the cattle drive. Photo by Chris Stone
Cowboys and cowgirls led 200 cows through the streets of downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone.
Despite a few misbehaving steers, the drive went smoothly through the streets of downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone
Cowboys and cowgirls led 200 cows through the streets of downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone.
Cowboys and cowgirls led 200 cows down Market Street. Photo by Chris Stone.
Cowboys and cowgirls led 200 cows through the streets of downtown San Diego. Photo by Chris Stone.
Spectators along Fifth Avenue emerge from restaurants to see the cattle drive. Photo by Chris Stone
Cowboys and cowgirls scramble to get the cattle across the trolley tracks. The arms came down but where quickly lifted. Photo by Chris Stone