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Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Doggy Paddle a big hit

Paul Brooks
By Paul Brooks
Wanganui Midweek·
26 Mar, 2019 10:57 PM2 mins to read

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Fergus is togged up and ready for the ride home. PICTURE/ PAUL BROOKS

Fergus is togged up and ready for the ride home. PICTURE/ PAUL BROOKS

Sunday was a special day for dogs at Whanganui East Pool.
Advertised as a Doggy Paddle, it was the last day of the season and the water was reserved for canine friends, large and small. To keep squabbles to a minimum, small dogs had the pool from 1pm and vacated the
premises before the big dogs took over at 3pm.
Midweek got there while the small dogs were in charge.

"It was fantastic: really good fun," said one of the dog owners as she was leaving. One was taking her small dog home and would return later with her German shepherd.
Melody Tamou, Splash Centre Operations Manager was at the pool with two of her staff members, Kimberly and Lexia.
"This is the first year we've done this," she says. "Other regions like Auckland and Wellington have done it, so we thought …
"It's definitely been cool, especially as we're animal lovers."

She says, although it's not a requirement, a lot of the owners are getting in the pool with their animals.

Gienipha was there with Noah, her little Jack Russell / fox terrier.

She put him in the pool and he paddled frantically to the side, where he attempted to get out by himself. Gienipha lifted him out.

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Noah goes for a dip at Whanganui East Pool. Picture / Paul Brooks
Noah goes for a dip at Whanganui East Pool. Picture / Paul Brooks

Not all dogs can naturally swim. One tiny dog – a shih tzu / Japanese chin – just floundered in the water, says his owner.

Drew had brought his Scottish terrier, Fergus on the back of his 300cc Vespa scooter.
"They're not great swimmers: they're too heavy boned," says Drew. "You have to be careful with them around water."

The helmet carrier on Drew's Vespa has been adapted to be a doggie seat for Fergus.
He is harnessed in and has his own little pair of dog goggles.
"They're made for dogs: they're called 'doggles'," says Drew.
Fergus is a YouTube star too, and he loves a camera.

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