Approximately 135 dogs frolicked in the Arnold Recreation Center’s outdoor pool on Sept. 6 during the city’s annual Pooch Plunge, said Caitlin Overkamp, Parks and Recreation Department supervisor.
The plunge was divided into two sessions, with dogs weighing less than 35 pounds going first and dogs weighing 35 pounds or more jumping into the pool next. About 60 smaller dogs and about 75 larger dogs took the plunge, Overkamp said.
“I think it was awesome, and you couldn’t have asked for better weather,” she said of the event. “It was just awesome to see all of the dogs have their own little splash.”
Overkamp said approximately 170 people came with the dogs to the pool. People were allowed to get into the pool about knee deep.
“We had several families with children, and we had a couple who brought five dogs,” she said. “People were in the water about ankle deep playing with the dogs, and there were people sitting around letting the dogs run free.”
Overkamp said it was fun watching the people and their dogs.
“I enjoyed seeing our members from the rec center joining us with their dogs,” she said. “This is something they look forward to for their little pups.”
The Pooch Plunge typically marks the end of the outdoor pool season at the rec center, 1695 Missouri State Road. Overkamp said the event is a great way to close out the outdoor pool season, which traditionally starts at the end of May over the Memorial Day weekend and ends near the start of September.
“We had a lot of people say they come every year and this is what they look forward to,” she said.
Click to see more pictures from the event:
