Saskatoon pool opening for dogs next month

Tired of seeing your canine companion sweating out the dog days of summer? Help is on the way.

The City of Saskatoon is opening the Mayfair pool for dogs on August 25th, the last day of the swimming season.

"We actually had a resident come forward asking if this is something we would consider doing," said Director of Recreation and Sport Cary Humphrey. "We also knew there were some other municipalities in western Canada that were doing the same thing, so we thought we would give it a whirl in Mayfair."

However, if you want to swim with your dog in the pool, you're out of luck. The City says it wants to do water quality tests to make sure the pool doesn't get too dirty.

"If, from a water quality and sanitation perspective, there's really no dramatic change, I think maybe next year we might let them co-mingle," said Humphrey. 

While some swimmers may be...less than impressed they're sharing a pool with dogs, Humphrey says the pool will be drained after the swim and thoroughly cleaned.

"For just basic water sanitation and safety purposes, we're doing it on the last day of the season, and when we're done we'll close the facility for the year," he said.

Dog Day of Summer will be held at Mayfair Pool, August 25th, from 5-7 pm. The city will be selling dog licenses, and the SPCA will be holding a fundraiser. A special swim for service dogs will be held from 2-4 pm that day.