With every throw of a flying disc, Twinkle jumped into the shallow pool and retrieved it.
The beagle/English bull dog mix was living her best doggie life as the dog days of summer took over the Shields Park Pool on Saturday.
"She likes to play fetch, but she doesn’t get to do it in the water very often," owner Chad Bruce of Seymour said in between throws.
A total of 81 furry, four-legged friends spent the afternoon sniffing new scents and chasing toys all while splashing and swimming with each other during K9 Campers’ annual Summer Dog Splash.
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"We love this," Bruce said. "I was just saying wouldn’t it be nice to take the dog to the pool."
Now in its fourth year, the event closes down the pool for the summer and gives dog lovers the opportunity to bring their pooches for a dip. The cool water was quite the treat for the dogs on a hot, sunny day.
Owners were allowed to get in the kiddie pool with their dogs, but due to health department regulations, they were prohibited from getting into the big pool with them. That didn’t keep some of the bigger dogs from jumping in by themselves and doggy paddling around.
The Summer Dog Splash also serves as a fundraiser. With admission, donations, a silent auction and a raffle, the total amount raised was around $520.
This year’s proceeds were to be split between the new Jackson County Dog Shelter in Brownstown and the Humane Society of Jackson County in Seymour.
Organizers Suzanne Steltenpohl and Susie Rohr said the event is just as much a way for dog owners to get together and socialize as it is for the dogs.
"People love to get together and talk about their dogs like they talk about their kids," Steltenpohl said.
Amy Peters and her son, Damon, 9, of Hayden brought their dog, Boone, to swim for the day.
"He was really nervous at first," Amy said of the beagle mix. "We had to drag him in, but when he saw all the other dogs, he started to have fun. Now, he doesn’t have a care in the world."
This was the first year for the Peterses to bring Boone to the pool.
Although she was one of the smallest dogs there, Pepper, a miniature Pinscher, was doing her best to swim with the big dogs, but owner Amy Boling of Seymour kept a close eye on her.
Boling and her daughter, Shyla, 6, held Pepper in the water to let her paddle her little paws.
"We were here last year," Amy said. "We love to bring the dogs out to socialize."
Tequila Hornback of Seymour stepped into the kiddie pool and tossed a ball to her dogs, Luna and Sofie. Both dogs attend K9 Campers during the week.
"They love it," she said. "My dogs are water dogs as it is."