The JCC outdoor pool became a doggie playground on Sunday to celebrate the end of the summer season. More than 150 dogs came out to jump, swim and chase balls in the pool with their owners and other pups at the JCC’s Doggie Dip.
Debbie Glienke of Glenmary brought her dog Riley, a 6-year-old Labrador-Gordon setter mix, because she tries to bring him to every dog swim she can. Riley enjoyed jumping in the water then chasing after other dogs on land. “It’s so nice that they do this,” she said. “It’s like a dog park but with a pool!”
Mike Kessler’s dog Samantha, a 4-year-old black Lab mix preferred to run and jump from the side of the pool on into the deep end, grab her toy, then swim across to the shallow end and climb up the stairs – over and over. Kessler would throw the orange rubber toy off the side, Samantha would dive in and Kessler would jump in after her. Kessler of St. Matthews and his wife Amanda Krzysika are JCC members and have brought Samantha to the Doggie Dip for three years, after moving here from Boston. Samantha is also a regular swimmer in the Ohio River, where the family keeps their boat.