Pooch Plunge

It's a pool party for dogs!
Fur Kids Foundation, with support from Campbell County and the City of Gillette, is hosting a Pooch Plunge! Bring your dog to the City Pool, 909 S. Gillette Avenue and watch your pup have a blast plunging into the water. Tennis balls and treats provided.

2021 Session: TBD
Small Dogs Session (under 40#): 9:30-10 am
First All Dogs Session: 10:30-11:45 am
Second All Dogs Session: 12:15-1:30 pm
City Pool, 909 S. Gillette Avenue

Cost: $5 per dog, per session
Note: Handlers/owners are limited to two dogs;
if you have four dogs, you must have two handlers.

RHV ear washing station
The staff at Red Hills Veterinary Hospital want to make sure your pooches ears are in great health after playing in the water at the Plunge, so they have volunteered their time to make sure they are cleaned properly before you leave this event for FREE. If your pup need their ears checked, just stop by their table and they will make sure your pup's ears are in good health!

Check out details from the 2020 Pooch Plunge!

Check out details from the 2019 Pooch Plunge!

Check out details from the 2017 Pooch Plunge!

Check out details from the 2016 Pooch Plunge!

Check out details from the 2015 Pooch Plunge!

Check out details from the 2014 Pooch Plunge!

Registration
In order to keep participants and volunteers safe, pre-registration and pre-payment is required to attend the Pooch Plunge. If you do not pre-register, you must wait to enter until everyone who has registered for that session enters the event. Only 100 attendees can come per session, so you must come the session you have registered to attend and we do ask that you only register and attend one session. Please bring your receipt or paperwork with you the day of the event—you can also show it to check in staff on your cell phone. Pooch Plunge is a fundraiser for Fur Kids Foundation. In the event that the Pooch Plunge is cancelled, attendees will have an option to donate their registration to the Foundation or request a refund.

Dog owners must complete a registration form and submit payment via PayPal, and review the liability waiver before entering the event—waiver and rules are below. You can also send a printed registration form with a check or money order by August 13. Options are below.

COVID-19 Update
Your health and safety are very important to Fur Kids Foundation. Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), please be aware of the following requirements for attending the Pooch Plunge.

You enter Pooch Plunge at the City Pool at your own risk. When you exit, you will be asked to sign out for contract tracing purposes.

No more than 100 participants can attend the Pooch Plunge per session. Participants will be asked to enter at the gate on the left of the building, and exit at the gate on the right of the building.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance/exit to the event, as well as on tables inside the pool area. Participants are also welcome to wash their hands in the public bathrooms.

There will be a 30 minute break before the next session in order to give volunteers enough time to clean highly trafficked areas with cleaning solutions.

Volunteers at the Pooch Plunge will have the option to wear face shields and masks while working the event. Participants are encouraged to wear a face shield or mask during the event; however, masks or shields will not be provided. Scientists and public health experts agree that DIY cloth masks can help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, DIY masks do not provide 100% safety from transmission. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when cloth face coverings are used along with other preventive measures. It’s important to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow, wash your hands, follow social distancing guidelines, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Board members and volunteers will be screened for symptoms before entering the building for the event. If you have been in contact with someone with coronavirus within 14 days before the Pooch Plunge, we ask that you do not attend. If you or anyone else who is attending the event with you have any respiratory symptoms the day of the Pooch Plunge, we ask that you do not attend. According to the CDC, people with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

Fever over 100.4 or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Participants are encouraged to practice safe physical (social) distancing measures. To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Check out the graphic below for a social distancing guide for dog people.

Supported by

Rules of the Pool

For the security of both our two- and four-legged attendees, all dogs must be up-to-date on all their vaccinations, and wear a collar with proper ID at all times. You sign a waiver upon registering indicating this is done. A dog license is encouraged, and can be done at the City of Gillette Animal Shelter, 950 w. Warlow Drive. Call 307.688.5249 for details. A PDF of the application can be downloaded here.
All pets MUST enter and exit the pool facility on a leash.
Dogs must be well-behaved and well socialized with other dogs and people.
Swimming with your dog is prohibited. The chlorine levels are lowered significantly, the water levels are lowered and the filtration system will be reduced so the dog hair won't clog filters. So, the water is safe for your dogs to play in; however, we do ask that people are not in the water with their dogs.
Dogs are not permitted to defecate in the pool; please use grassy areas only for bathroom breaks.
All participants are expected to practice responsible pet ownership and clean up after your pup (bags provided). Failure to clean up after your pet will result in immediate removal from the event.
Handlers/owners are limited to two dogs and are responsible for their pets’ behavior and safety at all times. Any unruly participant will be asked to leave. Refunds will not be provided.
Harsh handling of animals is not tolerated. Any person deemed by Pooch Plunge volunteers or City/County staff to be abusing or neglecting an animal will be asked to leave.
No female dogs in any stage of heat may participate.
No puppies under six months of age may attend. See rule No. 1 for more information.
No children 12 and under are permitted to participate without supervision of an adult, 18 years old or older.
No food allowed on deck in the pool area.

Liability Waiver
Thank you for participating in Fur Kids Foundation’s Pooch Plunge. By attending the event as a participant or guest at the City of Gillette City Pool, I agree on behalf of myself, my spouse, my children, heirs, personal representatives and assigns (collectively "guest"), to the following:

To indemnify and hold harmless the Fur Kids Foundation, the City of Gillette, Campbell County government, and its agents associated with the Pooch Plunge, all sponsoring organizations and their elected officials, directors, employees, representatives and volunteers from any responsibility, injury, property damage, loss, personal liability, or claims of loss, damage or expenses that may occur or relating to the participation/ attending within the event. The entities above are not responsible for any injury sustained by exhibitors, patrons, animals or guests.
While attending the Pooch Plunge with my animal(s) and should any injury occur to any person, other animal or property as a result of the behavior of my animal(s) at the event, whether expected or unexpected, regardless of the stimulus for the behavior (i.e., animal’s spontaneous conduct, the conduct of another animal, the conduct of any person or thing, or a combination of any of these), I will be solely liable and be held responsible for any injury or property damage that results from (including reasonable attorney’s fees) any and all claims of liability and damages from any injury, property damage, loss, claim, or expense resulting from the behavior of my animal.
Fur Kids Foundation is not liable for accidents/illness caused by participating in the Pooch Plunge.
To report any and all injuries immediately to the Fur Kids Foundation Board Members / Event Management.
That bringing my animal/pet into the Pooch Plunge, I understand that I am doing so at my sole risk, cost and expense and any harm that comes to the animal shall be solely my responsibility; and that I will be solely responsible for cleaning up any messes made by my animal/pet.
That my animal/pet is healthy, free from parasites and has all necessary shots including rabies for dogs.
For valuable consideration received, I give Fur Kids Foundation, their assigns, licensees, and legal representatives the irrevocable right to use my picture, portrait or photograph in all forms, media and promotional materials, without restriction as to changes or alterations for advertising, trade, promotion, exhibition, or any other lawful purposes. I waive any right to inspect or approve the photographs or electronic matter that may be used in conjunction with them now or in the future, whether that use is known to me or unknown, and I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the photographs.
That I understand that if my animal/pet acts in any way considered aggressive or dangerous I will have to leave the show and will not be entitled to any refund.
No food allowed on deck in pool area.
I am aware of the risks and hazards inherent upon entering the Pooch Plunge, and I choose to voluntarily enter the premises, knowing the conditions might become more hazardous and/or dangerous for me and/or dog(s). I understand that water may carry disease or waste from dogs entering the pool and should not be considered safe for humans to enter.

Fur Kids Foundation is the only organization in Northeastern Wyoming that provides families with pets access to veterinary care when they cannot afford it—so you are helping your neighbors and friends, and maybe family, when you donate.

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