CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The doggy paddle was the swimming stroke of choice at one pool in Charleston Wednesday.
A large number of dogs and their owners took to the pool for the annual dog swim at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center pool.
It’s one of the few times where people will see signs outside the pool reading “Dog swim only.” Residents have to have a furry friend with them before the gate is opened.
Mike McDonald’s dog is a regular at the event, which has been taking place for roughly ten years. He said it’s always a good time.
“She loves it. She is a Labrador retriever so she likes to swim and she comes every year,” said McDonald. “On two or three different days she will be here and she has been here for eight or nine years.”
For ten days total, Wednesday through Sunday this week and next week, dogs and their owners will be the only ones allowed in the pool. Cheryl Gaynor, Senior Program Coordinator for the City of Charleston, said it’s a great event.
“Charleston really doesn’t have too many places for dogs to go and it’s just a great thing for families to get out and bring their pets,” she said. “It’s just a big family event and they love it.”
Gaynor said the attendance is low during the week, but on the weekends they regularly get between 130 and 180 dogs each year during the ten day dog swim.
It was the first time for Strider and his owners, Jeff Schrider and Linda Matheny, and just after 20 minutes he had his tongue hanging out.
“It’s a great opportunity for the dogs to get out and get in the water,” said Schrider. “I mean we don’t have an opportunity to get Strider, our husky, out in the water other than going to a lake or something like that.”
Schrider adds that taking Strider to a lake isn’t ideal since huskies have a tendency to run off, but the dog swim is a great controlled environment.
The Charleston area does have a dog park for the furry friends, but Matheny said it’s not a great place to swim.
“They have a little pool at the dog park and all the dogs have to share it and it’s a kiddy pool, so this is fabulous,” she said.
The dog swim will be held this week Friday through Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. each day at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center pool and also next week Wednesday through Sunday at the North Charleston Community Center.
The event is free and all you need is a dog to gain access to the pool.