Who let the dogs in? Mayfair Pool opens for furry friends

Rather than kids splashing around at Mayfair Pool in Saskatoon, pet owners brought along their dogs for the annual Dog Day of Summer.

“I pushed him in the water but he jumped right back out. He’s only five months old and he’s growing, but I’m going to make him love the water,” said Abby about her German shepherd pup Thor.

Thor was one of about 30 dogs on the loose at the pool Monday afternoon. The day started with Saskatoon’s service dogs cooling off with the first dip, followed by a new group of dogs every hour after.

While Thor may have put up a fight about getting into the water, other dogs didn’t need that much encouragement.

“He’s being pretty brave today I’m impressed but the ball helps for sure it gets him out there,” Jenna Johnston said about her rescue dog Baloo.

With bright blue eyes Baloo stood out from the rest of the pack, because he was the one dog in and out of the pool every 60 seconds.

“We take him to the river every day at the dog park and he’s just three years old and he’s really good in the water,” Johnston said. “A lot of people comment on his eyes – they’re bright blue so we named him Baloo and we call him Blue for short sometimes, so a pretty fitting name for him.”

It’s a bittersweet time though; the Dog Day of Summer comes a day after the city closes all public pools for the season.

The last group of dogs go in at 6 p.m. and the pool has to be clear by 7 p.m.