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Yariel Moyet of Brandon gives his 1-year-old golden retriever Charley a pep talk as he tries to get him to go in the pool. “He lover the water,” Moyet said. “He’s afraid to jump in, but he loves to fall in.” Seconds later Charley decided he’d rather go play with other dogs and ran off, leaving Moyet alone holding the ball.
Chaos reigned Saturday, June 25 at the Lake Vista Pool in St. Petersburg as canines of all shapes, colors, sizes and breeds took over the aquatic center for an hour-and-a-half dog swim. Like whirling dervishes, dozens of dogs raced around, chased toys, splashed, swam, barked and belly-flopped into the water. Above the cacophony rose the calls of their respective owners: “Sit!” “Come!” “Get it! “Stay!” “Ready?” “Good girl!” A jolly wet time was had by all. The swim was sponsored by the City of St. Petersburg’s Parks and Recreation Department, which gives the pool a thorough cleaning after each dog event.
Goldendoodle Zoe, center, spins around as her owner, Mary Cummings of Clearwater, throws her ball towards the pool. “She loves to swim,” Cummings said. “She lives to swim!”
