These parties happen at the end of each summer, just before the pools are deep cleaned.
Christchurch City Council’s Head of Recreation, Sports and Events Nigel Cox says they are always a hit.
“The events are a great way to mark the end of summer and we know it’s a much loved day out for the whole family.”
It was held over two days to ensure dog owners could make the most of this unique opportunity for a doggy day out, with Waltham Pool hosting on Saturday, and Templeton Pool on Sunday. With the high number of dogs in a small area, the event organisers took extra precautions to ensure the day ran smoothly.
Steven Britt, from the council’s animal management team, said dogs were organised by size.
"We have small dogs first, then medium, then large, and an open session at the end for those who missed out.”
The animal management team of three spent the whole day out at the Waltham Pool. Britt said most dogs tended to be well behaved but they did have one corgi who had the time of its life and barked the entire morning.
“Other than that, it’s been pretty peaceful,” he joked.
The event was a hit with both dogs and owners, many of whom look forward to it each year. Cherry Mo, proud owner of border collie Calcifer, said this was her second time coming to the event.
“Calcifer loves it. He likes getting into the pools, playing with the other dogs and just generally getting out and about.”
By the end of the day it wasn’t just the dogs who were tired, with many owners saying they were also ready to curl up for a well-earned nap. So as summer comes to a close, so do the outdoor pools, but inviting dogs in to have one last splash provided a great day out for both the pooches and owners.
