Dog day afternoons.

Have you ever coordinated a "dog day in the pool" activity the day before you drained and cleaned your community pool? That was a recent question posted from Sacramento, Calif., on NRPA's forum, eCommunities. For information on how to join the discussion, become a member by clicking on "Join Now" on the right-hand side of NRPA's Web site, www.nrpa.org. Here are some responses regarding this canine conundrum:

"We have run a dog day at our outdoor pool for four years now, and it has been a tremendously successful event. We got the approval from the local health district and the state health department. We ran the filters right up until the time the dogs got in and made sure there was some chlorine in the pool. The only thing I was told is not to run the filters until the pool was cleaned and drained. We charge $5 per dog and offer two sessions. I have some lifeguards on duty to help collect money and keep an eye on the dogs. We do not allow people in the pool unless their dog is in distress. This year, we had three T.V. stations and two newspapers there. That is the most coverage we have received at any of our events. In the past, the money has been donated to a local animal shelter. This year we put it toward a future dog park."--Rocky Hill, Conn.

"In Willoughby, Ohio, we had a dog swim for the first time last year. There were a total of 114 dogs. Originally, we put a max of 50 dogs not knowing how many would fit in the pool. The public loved it--we did it the evening after our pool closed for the season. We even made the front page of the newspaper."--Willoughby, Ohio

"We just started a 'Dog Daze at the Bay' last year. The bay is an outdoor aquatics park. We have the event on the first Saturday after Labor Day (we close the outdoor pools on Labor Day). We open the park up for dogs and their owners. We charge $5 and this includes: swim time (sorry, no slides), a trash bag filled with rubber gloves, a tennis ball and a few treats. There were about 40 dogs and owners. We had a few people think that it was a free day to swim with [their] dog, but don't let them; the dogs do pee in the pool. What I will do differently: I will make the time longer and have people signed up for time slots to allow more dogs to come in. I will sell vendor booth spaces to vets, doggie daycares, dog acupunctures, shelters, etc. And the animal control will be involved this year. I would like to see this be a little festival for the dogs."--Broomfield, Colo.

"We have a dog swim every year in our pool. It is always planned for the Saturday after Labor Day, so that no humans will be swimming after the dogs. We do have a lifeguard on duty, just in case. The main suggestion I have is that you should line your filter baskets with mesh or fine netting to catch the hair so it doesn't get into the filtration system. Also, we charge $5 per dog and the swim time is about two hours. We also give out dog bones as they are leaving. I would recommend having some buckets of water around to use in case there is a dog fight. And also have lots of plastic bags to give to people to clean up their dog poop."--Lovettsville, Va.

"Besides the obvious benefits of enjoying quality time with pets, I've found that dog swims can provide excellent media exposure for aquatic facilities. As is the case with all 'novelty' special events, communication with the public and elected officials is key. To address your specific concerns: The public loved our Dog Daze swim in 2001, and many people came into the facility for the first time. I strongly suggest dividing up the dogs into larger and smaller groups(perhaps 30 pounds as the cut off). Also be aware of populations who are not receptive to companion animals due to cultural variables. Meet with your maintenance staff months ahead of time and tell them they have an extra 'challenge' coming up. Make no mistake about it, even freshly groomed dogs shed, and all dogs may go to the bathroom when they are around each other. Having designated clean-up staff on hand is a good idea. I've also heard of other facilities providing 'buzz cuts' or discounted grooming services available for the dogs just prior to the swim. Make sure the public understands that the deck, water and equipment are going to probably be cleaner than ever when you re-open because you have a comprehensive sanitation and maintenance strategy."--Canton, Mich.