Dogs Head To Pool Aug. 23

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Dogs once again will have their own swim party at Prairie Grove Aquatic Center.

The second annual Soggy Doggy Pool Party will be held 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Prairie Grove pool. Proceeds will benefit Friends of the Prairie Grove Pound.

Last year, about 100 dogs enjoyed playing in the water. Lesa Bement, president of Friends, expects many more dogs this year.

"I think it's going to be a great deal bigger because of word of mouth and I'm hearing people really talk about it," Bement said.

The doggie party will be held after the pool is closed for the season. Cost is $10 per dog. Humans are free. Dogs only, no people, will be allowed in the pool during the event.

To participate, dogs have to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dog friendly and people friendly. Pet owners also will have to sign a waiver to release the city of any liability and must watch their dogs, clean up after them and be responsible for their behavior.

Stephanie Conway, event coordinator, said this year's Soggy Doggy Pool Party has six sponsors to help defray costs and these sponsors include Rausch Coleman, PG Telco, Arvest Bank Prairie Grove and Daisies and Olives Antiques.

Vendors on site will include food concessions for sale by Tooley's BBQ and a grooming service, dog sitting service, dog wash and dog trainer. Several rescues with dogs available for adoption also will be at the pool party.

Two new activities are planned this year.

The party will have a summer theme costume contest for dogs with a gift basket offered to the winner.

Also, rubber duckies, actually rubber doggies, will be sold for $1 each. Each rubber doggie will have a number attached to it and the winning number will receive a trophy and gift basket.

Bement said the pool party last year generated about $1,200 in proceeds. She hopes this year's event will bring in enough money to take care of vet bills during the winter months. The Friends of Prairie Grove Pound is in the process of fencing in a run area for the dogs next to the facility and also hopes to add on an outdoor area for its impounded cats in the future. Bements calls it a "catio," instead of a patio.