FROSTBURG — Dogs from all over got to enjoy the pool one last time for the summer over the weekend at the Frostburg Pool.
Sponsored by the Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club and Frostburg’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the event draws countless canines to hone in their swimming skills and enjoy the late summer sun at the city’s pool.
This year it was cool and breezy, but that didn’t stop the fun.
All proceeds and donations at the event go to the upkeep of the Frostburg Dog Park, which was constructed in 2010 with the help of the kennel club.
Milt Haderer, kennel club president, said the splash is one of the club’s most popular events each year.
“One hundred percent of this event is toward the Dog Park,” Haderer said. “This is solely for the park.”
Over 100 dogs showed up to the splash on Saturday and Sunday, and got to enjoy the water and the company of other canine friends.
Students from Frostburg State University athletic teams were also present to help volunteer for the community.
Becky Rephan is the organizer of the Friends of the Frostburg Dog Park, and has seen the park morph into what it is today.
According to Rephan, the splash began in 2009. It is the only fundraiser in the entire year that supports the maintenance of the dog park.
“A group of concerned citizens and veterinarians came together to find a spot for a dog park for the public,” she said.
The park is open to the public year-round. It contains three separate fenced-in areas.
Haderer said that more young interest in the UPVKC has sparked a recent surge in participation and planning for more events.
They will hold rally obedience classes for the first time in years at the Salvation Army in Cumberland starting Sept. 17.
One of the UPVKC’s youngest members, Cambryane Slemmer, is one of the reasons that the club has remained stable over the years. She does photography and maintains the club’s website.
“The club supports its local dog community, and I wanted to help them better reach the community with their goal,” Summer said.
“My belief is people join this way of life to grow both a bond in their own canine partnership and the dog community itself.”
To learn more about how to support the Frostburg Dog Park and the UPVKC, visit www.upvkc.org.