Puppy Plunge

One of the public swimming pools in Shrike'sWorkTown holds an event called the Pooch Plunge each year, at the end of the swimming season. 

As the name would suggest, the pool is open to dogs, and all the admission fees go to the Humane Society. 

($5 for each dog/human pair, plus $2 for additional dogs or humans in your party.)

PerfectPup hates that sort of thing (with lots of dogs and people) but Shrike's taken BigGaloot the past couple of years and he's loved it. 

We've had the plunge on our calendar for weeks, and even before today's appointments were set, Shrike had arranged to take off work, and I was planning to leave in time to go with her. (I'd never been before.)

As it worked out, we dropped Galoot at Shrike's sister's house (almost in Shrike'sWorkTown) on our way to Dr. Peri's and he hung out with his doggy cousins for the day. 

Then, after the appointment, we went back over there, had dinner with them, and then we all went to the plunge. 

It was me, Shrike, Galoot, Shrike's sister and her partner, their two kids, a kid friend and their Weimaraner. 

Shrike and Galoot swam in the big pool a bit, but he mostly waded in the kiddy pool. The kids swam everywhere, and the rest of us sat on the sidelines and watched. 

It was a lot of fun, once I got over being a bit tired and grumpy from my long day. 

I did wade in the kiddy pool a teeny bit, but Shrike made me get out, because dogs were peeing (ours!) and pooping (not ours!) in it. 

When Galoot peed in the kiddy pool ("And everybody saw him!") Shrike was rather mortified, but I pointed out that "That's why they do this today and not in the middle of the swimming season. They're dogs. It's what they do."

She felt better when she realized someone else had pooped. 

Oh, but the coolest part of the whole thing? 

Last night, when Shrike went to the Humane Society's website, to check on the times, prices, etc. and saw the (only) photo that they are using to advertise the Pooch Plunge. 

That's Shrike and Galoot from two years ago, when he was a puppy!