Los Angeles County’s public pools are going to the dogs this weekend — literally.
As the summer swim season comes to a close, five LA County pools will get a final splashy send-off on Saturday, with humans strictly forbidden from taking the plunge.
Instead, the pools will be handed over to four-legged swimmers for the county’s annual “Pooches in the Pool” event, giving local pups a chance to paddle and generally make a soggy mess before the pools are drained and cleaned for the year.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and LA County Animal Care and Control are inviting dog owners to bring their furry friends out for an evening of swimming and poolside fun.
The event will be held at the following five county locations:
- City Terrace Pool in East Los Angeles
- El Cariso Pool in Sylmar
- Don Knabe Park in Cerritos
- George Lane Pool in Lancaster
- Ted Watkins Park in Los Angeles
But there are rules, because even dog pool parties apparently require paperwork. At each location, small dogs get first dibs on the water from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the big dogs from 6 to 7 p.m.
People can hang out around the pool deck and cheer on their pups, but the water belongs exclusively to the dogs.
There are a few other hoops to jump through before your pooch can live out his aquatic dreams. Dogs must have current vaccinations and owners are required to bring a completed registration form. The county’s rules and registration paperwork are available through its Parks and Recreation channels.
