SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Residents brought their pooches to get cleaned up at a dog wash at the Old Town Ramble and Ride festival last weekend.

Buddy, a three-year-old golden retriever/basset hound mix, shakes at the NWT SPCA dog wash at the Old Town Ramble and Ride on Saturday afternoon. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

The Northwest Territories Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) fundraiser was held on both Saturday and Sunday just outside the Gallery of the Midnight sun. The SPCA washed 65 dogs and managed to raise approximately $800.

"We're getting them all nice and clean and smelling good," said Sarah Hunt, president of the NWT SPCA. The public "definitely appreciate the service because sometimes it's a challenge to bath their own dogs, like washing their vehicles."

The cost of the dog wash was by donation. This year the organization received donations ranging $10 to $60 per dog. Hunt said they didn't encounter too many problems with customers.

"Sometimes they don't like to get in the pools," said Hunt.

"So they have to be coaxed in."

According to the washers, some dogs rolled themselves in the dirt after getting clean, leaving dirtier than they arrived.

Ashley Rocher, 9, brought her three-year-old golden retriever/basset hound mix, Buddy. Her reason for bringing him to the wash was simple.

"He needed to have a bath."

Unlike most dogs, Buddy didn't seem to mind the treatment.

"He likes the water," said Rocher. "He just doesn't like it when it's hot."

Catherine Dixon said her chocolate Labrador didn't mind getting washed either.

"Nanook loved it," said Dixon, who said the volunteers also did a good job with the dogs.

"They were great and it was a lot of fun."

Cole Bruce decided to bring her two German shepherd dogs down to Old Town to get washed, since she originally got them from the SPCA and wanted to show her support for the organization. Despite the good cause, she said they encountered some problems with her two dogs.

"They don't like having baths," said Bruce. Even though her pets were not acting on their best behaviour, she said the volunteers washing the dogs were great.

"Yellowknife is really supportive of the SPCA," said Hunt. "We appreciate the support we get from the community."

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