With the weather in Switzerland getting hotter and hotter, it’s not just humans that crave a chance to cool off in the water. On September 15, dog owners and fans are set to converge on a pool in Canton Zurich, which will open its doors to our four-legged friends for free.

Dog swimming day returns to pool in Canton Zurich

In a statement given to ZüriToday, the public swimming pool in Opfikon announced the return of its dog swimming day, a chance for dogs to swim in the pools, frolic and even enjoy the slides. Both dogs and their owners are allowed to swim together, to celebrate the conclusion of the swimming season.

Speaking to the news site, deputy operations manager Martin Koller said the event was inspired by patrons continually asking whether their dogs were allowed in the pool. He explained that dogs are usually not allowed in the pools, as they risk drinking the highly chlorinated water.

Chlorine phase-out allows dogs to frolic in swimming pool with owners

However, every year since 2020, the pool gradually phases out the chlorine at the end of the summer, meaning it "is then almost completely removed from the water" by the time of the event, Koller noted. This allows the dogs to use and swim in the pool with their owners without fear of getting ill. Here are some pictures from last year's event:

Koller predicted that around 200 people would show up for the dog swimming day in 2024, adding that while he thought the event was “fun”, he is a cat person himself. “They even use the slide, which I didn’t expect,” he added.

This year, dog swimming will be allowed in the Opfikon pool from 10am to 5pm on September 15. What's more, entry is completely free for both dogs and humans!