More than 200 dogs of all sizes and breeds are expected to dive, paddle and play during the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast’s 13th annual Santa Paws Holiday Pooch Plunge on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The highly visual event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sailfish Splash Waterpark, 931 SE Ruhnke St., before the waterpark closes for the winter.
Presented by the Bark Park, the play sessions will be organized as follows:
10 a.m.-11 a.m. – small dogs (Under 30 lbs.)
11 a.m.-Noon – open swim (all dogs)
Noon-1 p.m. – large dogs (30 lbs. and over)
Admission is a $15 donation per dog, with all proceeds benefiting the Humane Society’s shelter animals. Tickets are on sale now at https://hstc1.org/Post/Santa-Paws-Holiday-Pooch-Plunge.
The Humane Society is partnering with the House of Hope, and guests are encouraged to bring dog or cat supplies for the organization’s four-legged clients. Requested items include pet toys, dog leashes, cat litter and pet bedding. Beyond the open swim, the event will feature photos with Santa, a 50/50 raffle and holiday music.
Dogs are the only pets allowed at the event and must follow these rules:
• One handler per dog
• Proof of dog’s rabies vaccination (county license will suffice)
• Dogs must be leashed outside of the swimming area
• No retractable leashes
• Owners must clean up after their dogs
• No dogs under three months
• Observe dog for heat exhaustion
For safety, guests should leave dogs in heat, aggressive dogs and overly timid dogs at home. Organizers also recommend bringing towels for both pets and handlers because this is a very wet event.
The Bark Park is the presenting sponsor, with additional sponsorship from DoodyCalls. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Development Specialist Shelly Marino at 772-600-3224 or [email protected]. For event information, contact Community Events Manager Alyssa Bean at 772-600-3215 or [email protected].
Follow HSTC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/humanesocietyTC and X at https://x.com/hstc1. For more information, visit https://www.hstc1.org or call 772-223-8822.
