FORT CARSON, Colo. -- There was a teeny-weeny bulldog puppy, a king-sized Great Dane and just about every breed in between at the Outdoor Pool, Sept. 6, 2014.
Seventy-six canines took center stage making new friends, conquering the water slide and leaping into the pool fetching toys during the fifth annual Doggie Splash.
The event is held by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation the last day the Outdoor Pool is open to celebrate the end of summer, said Stacey Skillman, lead lifeguard.
"We know Coloradoans love their dogs (and we) want to give them the chance to bring them on out and have a good time with them," she said.
Skillman has her opinion on whether those with two or four legs had the most fun.
"The dogs, definitely the dogs … absolutely," she said.
While most of the four-legged friends couldn't wait to get into the pool, a few couldn't get out of the water fast enough after being sweet-talked -- or "assisted" into the pool.
Robyn, a 4-year-old Doberman pinscher, and Archie, a 1-year-old border collie-Labrador retriever mix, were among the first to negotiate the stairs and make the plunge down the water slide.
"(Robyn) doesn't mind going on the playground slide and this is just another playground … with a giant pool in the middle," said Joint Task Force Carson Family member Fawn Remington, who attended the event with her son Isaac and canines Robyn and Ripley, an 8-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Archie brought along humans Willma Fields -- who encouraged her to take the plunge by calling her from the bottom of the tubed slide -- and her children Victoria, 8, and Connor, 5.
"The kids really wanted to come, (and) I thought it would be really fun to do," said Willma Fields, wife of Sgt. 1st Class James Fields, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
It was her second trip to the Outdoor Pool Saturday; she competed in the "Tri It" Triathlon earlier in the day.
"This is more fun," she said. "Swimming with my dog is more fun than swimming to compete."
Family member Melanie Bernard was surprised how Spirit, her 18-month-old husky, responded to the outing.
"It was her first day ever in the pool," Bernard said. "I never thought she would swim with me."
And then there was Tex, a 7-year-old yellow Labrador retriever. He raced Capt. Jason Bolsinger, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavlary Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., to retrieve a tennis ball thrown by his other human, Nina Bolsinger. Once that game was over, time and time again Tex sat pretty, waited for Nina Bolsinger to throw the ball and give the command "Go," and jumped into the pool to retrieve the ball. Tex swam back to the edge of the pool and, with assistance from Jason Bolsinger, exited the water, dropped the ball at Nina Bolsinger's feet and anxiously awaited the next throw.
Those who missed Saturday's event can mark their calendars for next year's event.
"Every year we're gonna have it … we want to keep it going as long as we can," Skillman said.
Even those who move in the next year may have the chance to participate in other locations.
"Other Army posts have taken a page out of our book and have started (having) days like this," she said.
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