BY LAURYN BECKER
PHOTOS BY JESS KIRCHHOFF
As the season winds down for the Hays Aquatic Park, one last event must take place before the summer ends: Doggie Day.
“Doggie Day is a special event for the community because it is a unique opportunity for dogs to use the facility before we shut down for the season,” event coordinator Grant Lacy said.,
The event was filled with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and community members were excited to watch their dogs cool off in the warm August heat. Lots of tennis balls were thrown, new friends were made, and many tails were wagging.
Hays Aquatic Park, who teamed up with the Hays Recreation Commission for this event, has held Doggie Day for at least the last 12 years, according to Lacy, and is a community, and dog, favorite. Dogs and community members were greeted at the front desk with a bag of treats and were sent off for a day of fun.
“The best part of the day is seeing the dogs really enjoy the facility,” Lacy said.
Emily Norberg and her dog Diesel were especially excited for Doggie Day this year, as Diesel is a seven-month-old German Shepherd and Black Labrador mix, and was his first Doggie Day ever.
“(Doggie Day) is a really neat community event for all the dogs to come out and play at the water park,” Norberg said, “Hays is really lucky to have such a great water park.”
Lots of dogs and community members also got to enjoy a Doggie Play Day as well at the pool, where activities such as being able to paint their dog’s paws and create a unique canvas with their dog’s paw prints, as well as other different dog treats and snacks.
Doggie Day was the final event of the year as the pool will be drained for the season as the school year is starting for the Hays community. For more information on upcoming Hays Recreation events, click here https://www.haysrec.org/calendars.