Collegiate Times

Pups can go for a refreshing dip in chlorinated waters, which will no longer be designated just for humans, at the seventh annual Pool Party for Pooches, an out-of-the-ordinary fundraiser that lives up to its name.

Each year, after pools close to the public, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation lets them go to the dogs for the pool party fundraiser held by the Humane Society of Montgomery County. This year’s event is Sunday, Sept. 12.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dogs and humans alike are welcome to come to Frog Pond Pool in Christiansburg to get their paws wet and make a donation to HSMC.

The entrance fee of $10 for dogs and $5 for humans really adds up, accordingly to Chris Brandewie, who is one of four committee members that volunteers at HSMC and helps put this event together each year.

“Last year’s Pool Party for Pooches was attended by 300 people and 200 dogs and raised over $4,000 for our shelter,” Brandewie said. “We’d like to make this year’s event better than ever, both in attendance and money raised.”

According to Brandewie, the event is very important because aside from concessions at Virginia Tech athletic games, it’s HSMC’s largest one-day fundraiser. HSMC receives no funding from the state or county, meaning it relies heavily on the community to support the region’s only no-kill shelter.

The money raised at the pool party will help buy food for the animals at the shelter, pay for spaying and neutering surgeries and provide vaccines and veterinary care to the shelter’s four-legged residents.

For Brandewie, the event is more than just a fundraiser.

“It’s really just a wonderful way to engage the community,” Brandewie said. “You just look out (at the pool) and see everyone having a great time with their pets.”

Jennifer Ortolani, senior biology and psychology major, agreed with this sentiment. Ortolani is the president of the Pre-Veterinary Club, which provides the greatest source of volunteers for the event each year.

“This is my third year involved with the swim, and I look forward to it because it’s great to watch all of the animals having fun,” Ortolani said. “I had never heard of dog swims until I joined the Pre-Vet Club, but it’s very popular in the community and it’s just great to see everyone come out and support the cause.”

This year the club will bring approximately 40 volunteers, according to Ortolani. At the swim, the club will also help wash dogs — a service offered for $3 to get dirt and chlorine out of the dogs’ fur.

The swim isn’t a total free-for-all though. There will be some structured activities, such as a raffle and muskrat races, where an item is tossed into the pool for dogs to chase after. A local vendor will also be at the pool selling concessions for humans.

Fellow committee member Karyl Clemence is also very passionate about the event but cautions potential participants on some of the particulars. Dogs must be on leashes and also must be up-to-date on all vaccinations.

Humans younger than 16 years old are not allowed in the pool, and no underwater human swimming is permitted.

Clemence also warns dogs needs to be able to “play nice” with other dogs. If a dog does start causing trouble, he or she will have to leave.

“Fortunately, incidences with aggressive dogs in the past has been rare,” Clemence said. “It really just gives you goose bumps to see how smoothly this event runs with so many dogs.”

The event will be held rain or shine, but thunder and lightning would postpone it. In the event of inclement weather, the swim will be held Sept. 19 at the same time.

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 9 issue of the Collegiate Times.