An outdoor pool in St. Albert is sending off the dog days of summer with an annual dog-only swimming event on Monday where all the proceeds go toward an animal shelter. Cami Comfort Homes has been holding the Grosvenor Dog Swim in St. Albert since 2012. It’s an opportunity for owners to bring their pups out for a day at the outdoor pool before it closes for the season. The entrance fee is a monetary donation to Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS). New or gently-used pet-related items were also accepted. “St. Albert’s a huge community for supporting dogs,” said city special events organizer Maurizio Giordano. “We see it in our trail parks every day, and for two hours to bring them out, it’s really great.” Sunday marked the last day that Grosvenor outdoor pool was open to the public for the summer. After Monday’s dog swim, the pool is closed for winterization. “If the pool is being drained and not used anyway, might as well let the dogs go crazy,” he said. The day was filled with barking, splashing and owners mingling around the pool in case their pets needed any help. “We want to support SCARS because we love that they rescue animals … great cause, and also a great day for the dogs,” said Amanda Murphy, who was there with her dog, Enzo. Although this year’s event is over, Giordano said the city plans on bringing it back for years to come – and making it as big of a community engagement event as possible that includes dog-friendly food trucks and information booths about dog parks in the area. “It’s adding value to an event, we’re doing our best to try to add some pieces every single year to make it better,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s really for the dogs and the owners, seeing them here is amazing.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny
