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Community Corner

Summer Goes to the Dogs at Annual River Falls Dog Swim

This Sunday, the large pool at the River Falls Swim and Tennis Club in Potomac will be full to capacity one last time in 2010 — but this time, the patrons will be the furry, four-legged friends of the club's members.

This Sunday, the large pool at the River Falls Swim and Tennis Club in Potomac will be full to capacity one last time in 2010 — but this time, the patrons will be the furry, four-legged friends of the club's members.

"It's a last hoorah for summer," said Greg York, the manager at River Falls Swim and Tennis Club, 7915 Horseshoe Ln. "Once the dogs hit the pool, we are officially done!"

The club will host its annual "Doggie Swim" on Sunday, September 12 at 6 p.m. The event began 23 years ago when York had to wrestle a golden retriever out of the pool after repeated attempts to keep the dog out of the water. 

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"I finally made a deal with its owners — if they kept him away from the pool, I would let him have free reign of the place on the last day of summer," York said. 

And they held him to his word, beginning an annual tradition that marks the last day of the season at the club. Each year, the event draws approximately 30 to 50 dogs and their owners, but almost all of the club's members and the entire staff gather during the Doggie Swim to say their goodbyes, York said.

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"The hardest part is getting people to leave at the end of the day," York said.

Jake Harrison, a 16-year-old lifeguard at the pool, has been attending the event with his weimaraner, Riley, and his family for the past 11 years.

"It's kind of crazy with all of the dogs here, but it's a happy, fun event," Harrison said.

The gates at the pool are closed during the event to allow the dogs to run around without a leash and the children's pool is open to small dogs.  The dogs have unrestricted access to the entire pool and all of its amenities, including the water slide and diving board.

"We've been talking about it for weeks," club member Laura Farrell said. "You don't want to miss it!"

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