FORT CARSON, Colo.-Ranging in size from Chihuahua to Saint Bernard, dozens of dogs from military Families took the plunge at the Fort Carson Outdoor Pool Labor Day.
While a few of the dogs jumped right in, others needed much coaxing from their owners.
Still others, like lifejacket-wearing "Rocky," were victims of wet cement and gravity.
"He just fell in," said Jennifer Fox, Rocky's owner. "He never swam before."
Despite his inexperience, Rocky, an English bulldog and beagle mix, swam to the other side of the pool and back before getting out of the water.
Fox and her husband, David, came from Peterson Air Force Base to attend the event.
"This is awesome; it's really cool," she said. "I wish they could do it more often."
The pool staff had tried for years to put on the event before the pieces finally fell into place into this year, said Paige Bergeaux, pool manager.
Since the public can't swim in the pool after the dogs have been in it, the staff had to wait until the last day of the season to hold the event.
All dogs had to be shampooed before entering the pool and owners had to show proof of a current rabies shot.
Bergeaux said she hopes to make it an annual event.
"The turnout has been really great, and you can just see by looking at the families that they are really enjoying themselves," she said.
Among them was Spc. Joshua Smith, who got his Viszla "Zeus" acquainted to the water by tossing him into the children's wading pool.
"It's a great event for the families and dogs; it's a great idea," Smith said.
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