Who Let The Dogs Swim?

Photogenic pooches have a ball at pet-perfect pool party

At University Park’s Holmes Aquatic Center, swimming season isn’t over until wet dogs shake.

Pets and their humans who live in Highland Park ISD enjoyed the pool together on Oct. 2 for the annual Doggie Splash Day.

Pooches leaped into the water, chased balls, and enjoyed snacks. Humans coaxed their pets into the pool and sometimes joined them in it.

The end of the season tradition dates to 2013 when then parks director Gerry Bradley observed, “Every day, we watched people walking their dogs just outside the pool fence, and staff thought it was time to let them in for some fun.”

As Bradley described it, “Elvis” may have made an appearance that first year to check out those “hound dogs.” Bradley retired in 2020.

This year, while most public swimming concluded on Labor Day, senior lap swimming continued through September.

To keep Doggie Splash Day safe, lifeguards crewed their stations, and pet owners pre-registered their pets and provided proof of vaccination.

Aggressive behavior wasn’t allowed.

But splashing and shaking that water off on your human?

You can’t prevent that.

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William Taylor

William Taylor, editor of Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People, shares a name and a birthday with his dad and a love for community journalism with his colleagues at People Newspapers. He joined the staff in 2016 after more than 25 years working for daily newspapers in such places as Alexandria, Louisiana; Baton Rouge; McKinney; San Angelo; and Sherman, though not in anywhere near that order. A city manager once told him that “city government is the best government” because of its potential to improve the lives of its residents. William still enjoys covering municipal government and many other topics. Follow him on Twitter @Seminarydropout. He apologizes in advance to the Joneses for any angry Tweets that might slip out about the Dallas Cowboys during the NFL season. You also can reach him at [email protected]. For the latest news, click here to sign up for our newsletter.

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