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A ‘Dog Gone’ good time

By Dave Zuchowski, For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read
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Dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners will have a splashin' good time on Saturday when the Humane Society of Greene County holds its annual “Dog Gone Pool Party” at Wana B Park in Carmichaels. The fundraiser, which will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., will award prizes to dogs in various categories such as Best Diver, Best Doggie Paddle, a Good Dog Award and a Junior Achievement Award for the smallest dog.

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Dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners had a splashin’ good time on Saturday when the Humane Society of Greene County held its annual “Dog Gone Pool Party” at Wana B Park in Carmichaels.

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Dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners will have a splashin' good time on Saturday, when the Humane Society of Greene County holds its annual “Dog Gone Pool Party” at Wana B Park in Carmichaels. The fundraiser, which will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., will award prizes to dogs in various categories such as Best Diver, Best Doggie Paddle, a Good Dog Award and a Junior Achievement Award for the smallest dog.

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Dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners will have a splashin’ good time on Saturday when the Humane Society of Greene County holds its annual “Dog Gone Pool Party” at Wana B Park in Carmichaels. The fundraiser, which will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., will award prizes to dogs in various categories such as Best Diver, Best Doggie Paddle, a Good Dog Award and a Junior Achievement Award for the smallest dog.

WAYNESBURG — Dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners will have a chance to enjoy the last days of summer fun at Wana B Park in Carmichaels when the Humane Society of Greene County stages its annual “Dog Gone Pool Party.”

“Basically, it’s a canine version of a pool party with humans,” said Amy Gyurke, Humane Society board member from Waynesburg.

Scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, the pool will stay open for the event, which is annually held a few days after it officially closes to the public. This will give dogs and their caregivers a chance to swim together before the pool is drained and closes for the season.

“Some of the dogs like Labs, German Shepherds, Chihuahuas and Dachshunds are good swimmers,” Gyurke said. “Some are apprehensive of the water. And some just like to stay back and watch. Whatever the case, it’s a lively event that includes dogs catching and fetching balls in the water.”

The pool party usually brings in between 40 and 50 people, depending on the weather. The first couple of years, the party was held at the Waynesburg pool before it was turned into a water park. The event then moved to Mon View Park in Greensboro until it underwent renovations and upgrades. 2014 is the first year the pool party will be held at Wana B Park in Carmichaels.

Admission is by donation only and Gyurke said people can give whatever they want. In the past, participants have contributed everything from $5 to $100 and more.

To gain admission, caregivers must sign a liability waiver that states their dog is healthy and non-aggressive, and they also have to bring along proof that their dogs have been vaccinated for rabies.

“We usually check each dog’s rabies tag, but some participants also bring along veterinarian papers confirming their dog’s vaccination,” Gyurke said.

The Humane Society will award a total of nine prizes to dogs in various categories such as Best Diver, Best Doggie Paddle, a Good Dog Award and a Junior Achievement Award for the smallest dog.

The prizes are bags full of dog treats, toys and gift cards donated by area businesses and individuals.

This year’s award judges include Chuck and Janice Morris and Mike Gyurke, Sr., a Carmichaels police officer.

“As the dogs leave for the day, the Humane Society will give each one a little treat bag for coming,” Gyurke said.

During the pool party, the Humane Society will sell tickets for $20, good for the Cash Bash fundraiser scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds. The Dog Gone Pool Party usually nets the Humane Society between $500 and $1,000. Gyurke said it is more of a community involvement event than anything else.

“It gives the community a chance to get to know us and our work better,” Gyurke said.

“The Humane Society would like to thank the county commissioners and department of recreation for supporting the pool parties and the society for many years running. We’d also like to thank the community for their support and the adopters and repeat adopters who have provided caring homes. The animals are the real beneficiaries of their kindnesses.”

For more information, call 724-627-9988 or visit the Humane Society on Facebook.

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