The Mosgiel Pool is set to go to the dogs next month, when the facility will have a canine swimming day.
The event, to be held after the human swimming season is over, will be a first for the Dunedin City Council, Moana Pool booking co-ordinator Janene Sims said.
‘‘We just thought it would be something very different.’’
The idea came from a Dunedin pet minding service which approached the council after seeing a similar event advertised in Auckland.
‘‘We decided to run with it and give it a go,’’ Ms Sims said.
In the April 2 event, two days after the end of the season, owners would be able to bring their dogs for ‘‘a bit of a swim and a play’’.
Tennis balls would also be available for owners to throw for the dogs.
Ms Sims said people she had spoken to said they did not always have the opportunity to take their dogs swimming.
Small dogs would take to the pool in the morning, and larger dogs in the afternoon, with a maximum of 40 dogs in each session.
From limited publicity, the council already had 12 large dogs and seven small dogs booked in.
‘‘I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting to the 40.’’
Because the event would be held after the pool had closed for the season, there would be no cleanliness issues after the dogs had left.
Each canine would be checked before they entered for things such as fleas or cleanliness.
‘‘We reduce the chlorine levels, obviously, for the dogs,’’ Ms Sims said.
After the event the pool would be emptied, washed and and scrubbed as it was each year, removing any dog hair and anything else left behind.
Ms Sims said the event had been run in Auckland for four or five years.
The council would have feedback forms available afterwards to see whether there was interest in running the event again in future.
There would be a $5 entry fee, with all money donated to the SPCA.
Other donations to the SPCA would also be accepted.
Bookings could be made at the Dunedin City Council.
