Pools open for ‘Dog days of summer’
Swim season is coming to an end; that means pools across the country are hosting “Dog Days of Summer” events, a time when dogs can swim and splash with other pups at their local public pool facilities.
The pooch pool parties generally take place after Labor Day, before the pools are drained and shut down for winter.
This year, these events are some of the few that haven’t been cancelled by Covid. While the dogs don’t necessarily adhere to social distancing guidelines, they sure do have fun.
Morris Animal Inn in New Jersey celebrated the end of summer with a Pool “Pawty” for pooches. Dogs played together in large groups with paw-to-paw proximity to play in the pools.
Some of the fun activities included games like “Bark-o” Polo, Splash and Dash and Slip and Stride. Refreshments included “bark burgers” and “pupsickles,” with prizes and gifts such as frisbees and bandanas.
Serious doggy competitions are held at a few of the facilities. At the annual North American Diving Dogs Leap event in Las Cruces, New Mexico, competitors come from across the county to see which pup will come out on top. During the event, dogs of every breed jump off the dock to see how far into the water they can leap - something the dogs train for.
'It's a really fun sport. You can go from little dogs all the way to big dogs and anyone can do it,” said Donna Mobilia, who has been attending the event for about four years.
Most of these events double as fundraisers for a good cause. In Little Rock Arkansas, the $10 entrance fee collected at the Jim Dailey Fitness Center literally goes to the dogs (and cats) as it supports the city’s animal shelter, the Little Rock Animal Village.
Friends of theAnimal Village President Betsy Robb says this is the event that they most look forward to hosting every year.
“This is such an exciting event, and it really is fun for everyone in attendance. We always have a few humans who come without dogs just to watch, and we love that!” Robb said.
A lot of the venues partner with local animal rescue groups for those wishing to add a new pet pal to their families. They offer on-site pet adoptions, allowing the shelter dogs to splash around in the pools with other dogs while they meet potential owners.
To participate in doggy splash days, the dogs must show proof of up-to-date vaccinations, must play well with others and generally must be spayed or neutered.
Most facilities charge a small entrance fee of about $5 to $25 and separate the bigger dogs from the smaller pups into different time slots.
‘Pool Pawty’ Morris Animal Inn in New Jersey — Photo Credit Morris Animal Inn
