City Park Pool is going to the dogs on Labor Day, and mutts about town are invited to take the plunge.
The 13th annual Pooch Plunge, hosted by the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department, will cap off the summer season in a community known for its dog-friendly ethic. Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the presenting sponsor of the 2016 event.
Hundreds of hounds will dive in from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5, at City Park Pool, 1599 City Park Dr. in Fort Collins.
Tickets cost $6 each in advance and are available at EPIC and Mulberry pools; each ticket admits one dog and one handler. Admission costs $10 on event day. The first 400 people to enter on event day receive doggie bags filled with goodies from sponsors.
An estimated 600 wet dogs attended last year – some in costume – with hundreds of humans on hand to watch the joyful scene, said Jami McMannes, a spokeswoman for Fort Collins Recreation.
“We’re excited to be the presenting sponsor of Pooch Plunge,” said Dr. Timothy Hackett, director of the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “It’s a way for our hospital to join the fun and show appreciation for the community where we live and have provided veterinary care for animals for 109 years.”
A veterinary team from the hospital’s Small Animal Emergency and Urgent Care Unit will provide volunteer staffing at an emergency station during Pooch Plunge, in case any of the canine participants need medical attention during the event.
Questions? Contact Jami McMannes via email, jmcmannes@fcgov.com, or phone (970) 221-6358.
