Doggies can paddle in pool to support pet park plan

It’s time to break out the doggie swimsuits and beach towels. Lynchburg’s canines are holding one last bash before the end of summer.

On Saturday, supporters of Lynchburg’s dog park campaign are holding a Fido-friendly pool party to raise money for their cause. The event, which will be held at Miller Park Pool, will present a unique opportunity for area dog owners and their four-legged friends.

“Dogs will actually be allowed to get into the pool and swim,” said Kim Mason, a volunteer with the citizen-led nonprofit Friends of the Lynchburg Dog Park. “That’s never been done before. I think it will be really fun.”

The Friends of the Lynchburg Dog Park, a registered 501(c)(3), is working to raise donations to bring Lynchburg its first public dog park.

Saturday’s event, dubbed “Paws in the Pool,” will pour all of its proceeds into the project. It will also be the last event of the year at Miller Park Pool, which wrapped up its regular summer season last week.

“It’s going to be a one-time-only event,” Mason said. “We’re going to have something fun for everybody whether you want to get into the pool or not and whether you have a dog or not. We think it’s going to be exciting.”

Over the summer, Lynchburg’s dog park initiative received a flurry of public attention after being named a finalist in PetSafe’s “Bark for Your Park” contest, a national competition that had online voters slugging it out for a hefty cash prize.

The Hill City wound up in second place, beat out by Huntington, W.Va. But the city’s dog lovers doubled their resolve to make the park a reality and have been tirelessly fundraising ever since.

Since the contest results were announced three weeks ago, Friends of the Lynchburg Dog Park has raised slightly more than $18,500 in new donations, which includes a $5,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor and a $1,000 gift from Wells Fargo.

Combined with the money raised prior to the contest, the initiative’s bank account now has about just shy of $25,500, putting it within reach of its goal.

The complete vision for the new dog park carries an estimated price tag of about $100,000. But the first phase alone, which would be enough to get the park operating, is budgeted at $35,000.

Dog park supporters say they’re grateful for the generous contributions given, and are hopeful Saturday’s pool party will draw a healthy crowd.

“We want to keep the momentum going and keep this on people’s minds,” Mason said, adding other fundraisers will hopefully follow in the future.

“Paws in the Pool” is being co-sponsored by Lynchburg’s Parks & Recreation Department and Fur Kidz Pet Boutique on Rivermont Avenue.

In addition to swimming, the event will also feature agility equipment for adventurous canines and contests in areas such as cutest dog swimsuit and best water trick.

The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available for advance purchase at Parks & Recreation’s administrative offices at the Miller Center, 301 Grove St.

The number of tickets is limited.