For many, back to school announces the end of the summer. But for me and my dog, back to the pool marks the end of the season. Once a year, several public pools in our region open their gates to pups, sometimes more than one on one day so we must choose.
This year it was ‘Pooch Plunge,’ in Burlington, Ontario on Saturday and ‘Dash and Splash,’ in Kitchener, Ontario on Sunday … the big fully-fenced splash pad waterpark for kids in Kiwanis Park, Kitchener has been an annual tradition for my spaniel since she was old enough to go (pups must be at least six months old). All public pools must be fenced by law, so what better place for a chaotic leash-free fundraiser?
Yes, most ‘pooch plunges,’ or ‘paws in the pool’ events are fundraisers for rescues – although some cities like Toronto simply permit dogs in some pools the day after they close to people. Here’s how it works: the day before official draining, the pools or splash pads stop adding chemicals and let the pups run loose.
Pup Pool Plunge Party
And run they do – it’s sheer chaos really. And different organizations do it differently. (See below for some suggestions). Most labs wadded into the shallow end easily and swam confidently to the centre of the pool after balls. Yes, often tennis balls are hurled into the water. Spaniels, like mine, raced in circles without stopping, and the occasional small dog stood at the sidelines watching everyone else lose their minds like canines on spring break.
The dogs’ people circle the perimeter watching their pups like Little League parents cheering on their protégées. I have to admit, I was particularly proud of my spaniel when she leaped off the side of the pool several times into the water, then swam with purpose if a ball was close enough before heading back to the pool edge to hoist herself out of the pool. Last year, the leap into the water was made with hesitation and then only twice. This year, she was a confident pro. No floaty required.
You are required, however, to keep an eye on your dog, clean up, and stay out of the pool. Note the reduced chemicals or salt in the pool, so it doesn’t meet the public health requirements for people to enter – plus, there’s peeing in the pool (especially at the splash pad). No avoiding that.
How to run a dog pool fundraiser
How pooch plunge or pups in the pool fundraisers are done varies between organizations, but here are some suggestions based on experience:
- Pre-register for specific time slots. This is a good idea for traditional pools with a small ‘deck’ area because you can limit the number of dogs at one time. For instance, the Burlington Humane Society blocked the day in 45-minute increments, with 15 minutes between time slots to clear the pool. (My girl, of course, refused to leave).
- Offer ‘big’ and ‘little’ times. All pooch pool plunges I signed up for had a little dog hour when smaller dogs had the run of the place without biggies getting in the way.
- The more space, the better. I love the splash park in Kitchener because not only is the splash pad big, but the green area around the splash pad is extensive (all fenced) allowing high-energy dogs like mine to move out of the centre of chaos for a while.
- Food isn’t a good idea. Selling people food or giving out treat samples isn’t a good idea with many dogs around because it invites guarding behaviour.
Ultimately, the “Dash and Splash” fundraiser for the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society was a success for my pup who spent three hours running non-stop getting wet but not fully swimming. (She saved that for the pool in Burlington). Either way, your dog is going home damp, so bring a towel in the car.
End of Event Bath
When we got home, a bath was in order because my dog smelt musty, and we needed to rinse off any residue pool chemicals or purification products. I bathed her in Alzoo shampoo (review here) and, since the summer temperatures are dipping into fall, I dried her with our handy Neakasa dog blow dryer. Quick and easy.
Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!
