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Poochy Paddle at Old Town Hot Springs sees record attendance

Freddy, a springer spaniel, shakes off during the Poochy Paddle on Sunday at the Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs.
Matt Stensland

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Local dogs were in heaven Sunday at the Old Town Hot Springs for the semi-annual Poochy Paddle.

“This is her day,” said Matt Kovach, who brought his dog Savvy, a German Drahthaar. “When she knows we’re coming to the pool, it’s full meltdown.”

A tracking dog with wire hair, Savvy was having fun playing dead as well as jumping into the deep end to fetch a plastic duck.



“She’s gotten older,” Kovach said. “She used to go bigger.”

This year, a record 201 dogs participated in the event.



The Hot Springs has been holding the event twice a year before the staff drains the pools and performs a deep cleaning.

Donations were collected for the Routt County Humane Society, and the event continues to gain popularity.

“The golden retrievers have overtaken the labs,” Hot Springs Executive Director Stephanie Orozco said.

There were not many dog fights, and owners enjoyed watching their pets in paradise.

Jeremy and Jodi Glaisher brought their golden retriever Rufus.
“He got really excited this time,” Jeremy Glaisher said. “As soon as I started walking across the parking lot, he figured out where he was. He loves the water.”

Cait Mowris said this was her Chesapeake Bay retriever Ripley’s second favorite day of the year after the spring Poochy Paddle in April.

“He just loves the swimming part of it,” Mowris said. “He is a born swimmer. He could care less about the other dogs.”

With the pools being cleaned this week, Hot Springs members and visitors should visit oldtownhotsprings.org to find out what pools are open.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.


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