LAVA HOT SPRINGS — It was Disneyland for dogs Saturday afternoon at the Lava Hot Springs Olympic Swimming Complex, where nearly 200 dogs and their owners took advantage of the fleeting summer heat for an afternoon of fun during the 2nd annual Dogapoolooza.

    “It’s the first year we’ve been here, and this is great,” said Ken Eline, of Pocatello. “We could do this everyday.”

    Eline attended the event with his partner, Teressa Erickson, and their four dogs, Gabby, Molly, and Tipp, all border collies, as well as Zack, a flat coated retriever.

    “I’d like to see the Pocatello swimming pool do something like this,” Erickson said. “It’s a great fundraiser. There’s just not a lot of dog something fun for them to do.”

    With the glowing pride of ownership on display, their dogs competed in best-trick contest.

    Tipp retrieved Teressa’s shoes, keys, book bag and water bottle as well as trying to snatch someone’s wallet from the audience. Molly did various rollover tricks. Gabby waived howdy and spoke to the audience and Zack jumped over 6 feet high attempting to get a toy from the outstretched arm of Ken.

    The event was hosted by the Lava Hot Springs Foundation along with the Pocatello Pet Lodge, John’s Paint and Glass and the Community Animal Hospital. The proceeds from the day’s festivities were split between the Pocatello Animal Shelter, Bannock Humane Society and the Lava HEAT Swim Team.

    “Last year the event really exceeded my expectations, so this year I knew what to expect,” said Karen Homstad, aquatics program manager for ava Hot Springs’ Olympic Swimming Complex and co-organizer of Dogapoolooza. “I realized people really like this and there looking for something to do with their dogs.”

    “This fundraiser has done really well, I think even without the contests we could open up the pool for the dogs and we would do really well,” Homstad said.

    Dogapoolooza drew it’s namesake from the famous national summer concert fun and with occasional heat-related medical injuries, Dogapoolooza was no different. A veterinarian was on hand conducting on-site, pre- and post-event inspections, if necessary.

    Numerous vendors, clubs and informational booths were available to the attendees to glean and share information on this “dog day” afternoon. The event included a raffle with prizes donated from local and regional businesses, ranging from doggie toys to a free grooming package.

    The events for the day included the best dog costume, owner-doggie lookalike contest, wiener dog races held on land, best-trick contest, and the Cutest and Ugliest Dog Contest, which was swept by the same dog owners — John Thielman and Amber Kuhlman.

    Their 5-year-old St. Bernard, Jack, with his ragged coat and droopy, but loving eyes, won the ugliest dog contest after participating in a parade for both ugliest and cutest dogs.

    But stealing the show was Thielman and Kuhlman’s 3-month-old baby Pugg, Milo, who garnered attention anywhere he went.

    He didn’t go in the water, but he stole the hearts of those attending the event in Lava Hot Springs. The “cutest” crown was his — paws down.

    The clean sweep of awards made both “parents” proud.

    “It feels as good as it can feel to call my dog ugly,” Kuhlman said on sweeping both events.