Tribune/Cortney Maddock - Owners who brought their dogs to Bark at the Water Park at Melio Gaspari Water Play Park on Sunday watched as the dogs ran and played.
Bark at the Water Park started at 11 a.m. Sunday and continued until 5 p.m., according to Barbara Borges, recreation coordinator for Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space.
Borges said the event would include a contest at 2 p.m. with awards given to the winners who have the best swimwear, biggest smile and, also for the dog crowd, the coolest.
“We certainly hope this year’s event will exceed last year’s attendance,” Borges said, adding that about 150 people come out with their dogs in 2008.
Borges said this year’s event was lacking the vendors who usually set up booths because there wasn’t as much time to organize this year’s Bark at the Water Park. In previous years, local pet stores along with the Nevada Humane Society and the SPCA has booths at the event.
Bark at the Water Park cost $3 per human but the dogs were free, Borges said, adding that the cost to play for the day helped maintain the water park.
“I am mandated by the county health rules to keep it (the chlorine) at a certain level,” Borges explained. “I try to keep it a lower level for the dogs.”
Borges explained there were buckets of fresh water for the dogs to drink and that owners were encouraged to show their dogs were to find the fresh water.
As the water buckets poured onto the concrete and the tennis balls went flying, dogs of all shapes and sizes ran around Melio Gaspari Water Play Park.
Spanish Springs resident Stacey Gordon brought her dog, Cody, to play because he is obsessed with water. Cody, an 8-and-a-half-year-old Border Collie, sprang and jumped to catch the shooting water at the park and looked as if he had a large smile on his face.
“He is obsessed with water,” Gordon said. “He’s even been on ‘Animal Stars.’ My friend Stephanie told me about this so I had to bring him.”
Gordon said this was her first year at Bark at the Water Park, but that she was happy she brought Cody out to play.
“I’m loving it,” Gordon said. “He’s having so much fun. It makes me laugh and it makes other people laugh. It’s a great time.”
Also enjoying themselves were Riley and Ranger, whose owner, Kelly Perez, drove in from Fernley to attend the event. Riley, a 2-year-old Welch Corgi, and Ranger, a 6-year-old Rottweiler, displayed the size range of dogs playing at the park.
“Our dogs like water and playing with other dogs,” Perez said. “We take them to Pyramid Lake to play.”
Perez said she liked Bark at the Water Park because both dogs were able to play but also that a large Rottweiler like Ranger could play and show people that he is a nice, well-mannered dog.
“It’s just great for the dogs; they have the greatest time,” Perez said.
Reno resident Vicki Taylor brought her 2-year-old German Shepherd, Sofia, to Melio Gaspari Water Play Park because it is an activity for dogs and said that for her and Sofia’s first time to the park they were having fun.
Borges said that she hopes more and more people bring their dogs out every year.
“I think it’s a wonderful, safe place to bring your dog,” Borges said, adding that the park is fenced in. “The more, the merrier.”
Gordon said if dog owners couldn’t make it out to the park that they were missing out.
“They’re missing out on a lot of fun,” Gordon said. “They’re also missing out on good bonding time.”
Bark at the Water Park is an annual event held at Melio Gaspari Water Play Park at Lazy 5 Regional Park in Spanish Springs. Lazy 5 Regional Park is located at 7100 Pyramid Highway.
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