Get ready for the 11th Annual Dog Splash Days in Templeton
Dogs and dog owners will celebrate the 11th Annual Dog Splash Days in Templeton on Sept. 9 and 10.
Event happens Sept. 9, 10
Vineyard Dog Park organizers will welcome numerous dogs and dog owners to the 11th Annual Dog Splash Days in Templeton on Sept. 9 and 10. The popular event takes place at the Templeton Community Pool and attracts locals and tourists looking for a unique experience with their family dogs.
This year, the pool will be open to dogs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Sunday 10 a.m. swim session is reserved for small dogs (under 30 pounds) and senior or infirm dogs. Small and senior dogs are also welcome at all other swim sessions.
Admission to Dog Splash Days is $20 per dog per swim session. Event organizers recommend making reservations in advance.
Both the tot pool and the shallow end of the adult pool are open for dog swimming. Swim sessions are scheduled on the hour and are limited to 20 dogs at a time to ensure a safe play time for all dogs. Event organizers will provide dog life vests for new swimmers and lots of floating retrieval toys for added entertainment.
Only dogs are allowed in the pool during the event. Local dog trainers and therapists wearing wetsuits will volunteer as dog “lifeguards” to assist dogs in entering and exiting the water.
The Templeton Community Pool officially closes for the season on Labor Day but opens again for this final weekend of puppy fun. Parks4Pups, a local nonprofit group, organizes the two-day event, and all proceeds benefit Vineyard Dog Park in Templeton. In 2016, 250 dogs participated in the event.
To participate, dogs must be five months or older and adult male dogs must be neutered. Owners must present paper proof of their dog’s current rabies vaccination before their dog will be admitted to the pool area. If a dog begins to display aggressive behavior, they will be required to leave the pool area immediately, and their owner will receive a full refund.
Admission is $20 per dog per swim session, and event organizers recommend making reservations in advance, though they are not required. Dogs with prepaid reservations will be admitted before walk-ins as space allows.
There will be a lawn area set up next to the pool so spectators can watch the event. In past years, many visitors have brought picnic lunches and lawn chairs and watched the dogs play.
The Templeton Community Pool is located at the corner of Old County Road and 6th Street, adjacent to the downtown park in Templeton. Paid reservations can be made at parks4pups.org using a credit card or PayPal account. For more information about this event, visit www.parks4pups.org or call (805) 239-4437.
Dog Splash Days is the main fundraising event to support Vineyard Dog Park in Templeton; the park is supported entirely from donations and proceeds from this event. Vineyard Dog Park is located at 1010 Semillon Lane off Vineyard Drive. For more information about Vineyard Dog Park, visit www.vineyarddogpark.org or call (805) 239-4437.
