Jed spent a lot of time taking tennis balls out of the Kinsmen pool on Monday. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Dogs on deck at Kinsmen Pool

Aug 24, 2022 | 11:16 AM

It was a moment’s pause in normal operations on Monday as canines cooled themselves at the Kinsmen Water Park for the first time.

Michelle Hardstaff brought her dog, Jed, to the pool because she wanted him to get comfortable with the idea of swimming.

“I couldn’t believe it. He was actually jumping in after. Before, I had to coax him in,” she said.

In order to convince both Jed — an Australian shepherd mixed with Border Collie — and his sister Amelia to get in the water, she threw tennis balls in which, of course, they wanted to retrieve.

Amelia could not swim because of a leg issue but still managed to have some fun at the edge of the water and on the pool deck.

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“He loves to play and so I thought, he’s never had a chance to go swimming,” she said. “He did really good.”

Jed does some cooling off at home in the cattle trough but has not had the chance to into the deep end.

Hardstaff happened to be at the pool earlier in the week and saw the sign promoting the dog swim event, a three-way initiative between Lake Country Co-op, the City of Prince Albert and the pool.

Amelia watches from the deck as Jed goes for the tennis ball. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

Even with this being the inaugural event, a lot of dogs showed up. A dozen smaller dogs came out for the first hour, which was reserved for them and seven or eight medium/larger dogs for the second hour.

A third hour was set aside for dogs of all sizes.

The cost to get in was $2 which Lake Country said will be donated to the SPCA.

Other criteria included the dogs having a valid dog license, adult supervision, be vaccinated, socialized, spayed/neutered and the dogs needed to have trimmed nails.

For Hardstaff and her dogs, the event was a definite success.

“I’m so happy they did this. I hope they do it again next year,” she said.

Dogs are susceptible to bribery with toys, even while reluctant to get in the pool. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW