For Maplewood dogs, the end of pool season has sometimes meant one more chance to make a splash.

The township’s annual Dog Days of Summer event has turned the community pool into a gathering place for pets and the neighbors who love them.

Among local dog swimming events, its appeal is simple: dogs get the water, while their people get to watch familiar personalities emerge in a new setting.

Maplewood Township has held the swim as a season-ending occasion before the pools are drained.

Past participation was open to Maplewood residents, including those without community pool memberships.

Dogs were required to be licensed and wear their tags, while children and other people stayed out of the water.

That arrangement gave the dogs room to paddle, play and, in some cases, face the water for the first time.

New resident Katie Pogue brought Jax, her Great Pyrenees and Labrador mix, and watched him swim for the first time.

Her daughter, Ramona, shared the excitement of seeing Jax discover his dog paddle.

Nearby, Bianca Wallace enjoyed the lively scene with her Goldendoodle, Digby, as dogs moved between swimming and socializing.

Andre Van and Danielle Mimes brought their Alaskan Klee Kai, Nairobi, hoping to help the dog grow more comfortable in the pool.

Others arrived with experienced swimmers, including Cisco, an older English Labrador whose enthusiasm made age seem beside the point.

The pool party offered more than a final swim: it gave neighbors an easy reason to stop, talk and meet one another’s dogs.

Even residents without pets could enjoy the commotion from the poolside.

For families seeking dog pool parties, the Maplewood dog swim shows how a familiar local space can feel entirely different when dogs take over.

The delight is hard to miss, especially when a hesitant first-timer finally starts paddling.

Anyone hoping to attend a future swim should check the township’s current event details, since dates and participation rules may change.