Excited dogs gather for a canine-exclusive pool party to bid farewell to summer
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On a sunny Sunday afternoon in Toronto's West Queen West neighbourhood, the Stanley Park Outdoor Pool played host to a unique event - a dog-only swim session. The pool, which usually echoes with the laughter of children, was filled instead with the excited barks and whines of dogs eager for their thirty-minute swim time.
The pool opened early at 4 p.m. due to the number of dogs and their owners already waiting in line. Among the excited canines were Melanie's Mellow, a three-year-old dog who had never shown a liking for water, and Manolo, a golden retriever who loved swimming in Lake Ontario but was initially hesitant at the pool.
Mellow, bundled up in a tiny red life-jacket, attempted to learn to swim at the pool. However, his life-jacket caused him to flip onto his back, making swimming a bit of a struggle. Despite this, Melanie, his owner, stated that Mellow had swum, indicating progress in his swimming abilities. After his swimming lesson, Mellow watched the other dogs play from the safety of Melanie's arms.
Manolo's owner, Regina Burgos, helped him overcome his fear and enter the pool. Initially hesitant, Manolo soon found his love for swimming, much like his namesake, the famous footballer. Another golden retriever, Norman, aged four, had a fondness for water, having gone to Lake Ontario and staying at a home with a pool.
Hoka, a small white dog, was initially apprehensive about the water, possibly due to not being able to walk in easily. However, Hoka's owner, Vicky Zhao, noted that Hoka was more willing to enter the water than Mellow. Hoka's name is derived from her love for being outside, similar to the sportswear brand.
Many park passersby stopped to watch the dogs swim through the pool's chain-link fence. One girl wearing a green floral dress got wet when a couple of the dogs shook off chlorinated water from their fur. The event, which ran from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., was held for health and safety reasons, with dogs allowed to paddle and play fetch without human companions in the water.
It was "perfect timing" for Monica Mejsak, Norman's owner, who brought him to the pool. Mellow, despite his struggles, managed to swim a few inches from the pool wall before accepting help from Melanie. Despite the lack of public information about which dog breeders sent their dogs to swimming school on Sunday at Stanley Park Outdoor Pool, it was clear that the event was a success, with many dogs leaving the pool with wagging tails and tired paws.
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