Pooch Plunge

Be sure to join the Town of Newmarket at this year's Pooch Plunge 2022, presented by Global Pet Foods Newmarket. 

Pooch Plunge is the one weekend each year that our Gorman Outdoor Pool is available for a dog only swim before the pool closes down and is cleaned for the winter. It is a shallow wading entry pool with a small deep end for those dogs that like to jump in. The pool enclosure is an off-leash area and is fully fenced in. 

Date: Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11, 2022

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

Location: Gorman Outdoor Pool (424 D'Arcy Street)

Cost: $5 per dog/day

RULES:

• Handlers must be responsible for their dogs at all time. The lifeguards on duty are responsible for the humans on the pool deck. 
• Only dogs are permitted in the water; no humans.
  
• Dogs are to be hosed off prior to entering the pool as well as after exiting (hose water provided by the Town of Newmarket).
  
• Handler must be inside the pool enclosure at all times with their dogs.
  
• Dogs must be accompanied by a person of at least 16 years of age or older.
  
• Each handler can be responsible for a maximum of 3 dogs. 
  
• Children under the age of 12 years must be supervised by an adult at all times.
  
• If a dog begins acting aggressively towards others (both people and other dogs), it must be leashed immediately and removed from the pool enclosure.
  
• Please stoop and scoop if necessary and dispose of any excrement in the containers provided. A rest station is provided with cleaning supplies. 
  
• Only fully vaccinated dogs are permitted (no puppies under 4 months old permitted for this reason). 
  

• To avoid accidents on the pool deck and in the pool, please engage your dog in a high energy activity before entering the Pooch Plunge. There is an off-leash dog area available for this. 
  
• Please close doors behind you when entering/exiting the pool enclosure to avoid dogs escaping. 
  
  

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

• In the event of inclement weather, please continue to check back to this website for the most up to date information. 
  

Please note the risks associated with dog swims. We take every precaution to ensure the safety of all attendees however there are always associated risks. 

All participants at Pooch Plunge use the pool at their own risk. 

Information provided by York Region Public Health: 

Chlorine Levels

The chlorine levels are kept at the minimal level required as per York Region Public Health Guidelines.

Parasites (Dog to Human)

1. Canine parasites such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia (highly chlorine resistant), hookworm, tapeworm, and, roundworm can be transmitted to humans.
2. External parasites such as ticks, fleas, ringworm (a contagious fungal skin disease), sarcoptic mange (mite that does not reproduce on humans, but will cause a temporary red, itchy rash) can be transmitted to humans. 
3. Other rare zoonoses from dogs include Brucella canis, Leptospiropsis, rabies (all three are inactivated quickly by adequaetly chlorinated pool water.
   

Parasites (Dog to Dog)

1. Interspecies diseases include canine distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, coronavirus, adenovirus, and, kennel cough (all susceptible to properly chlorinated water). Dog to dog contact can transmit these infections and may contaminate the out of pool environment). 
   

1. Drowning, scratch-inflicted wounds, collisions, and bites (nips) may occur between dogs or dog to person.
   
2. Panicked dogs may be prone to aggressive tendencies. Aggressive dogs may inflict wounds on humans or other dogs.  
   

Back to New'bark'et event page 

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