"Why not provide the information from the Illinois Department of Public Health and ask all participants to read it first and sign a waiver that would hold the State of Illinois, City of Naperville and Park District harmless from any lawsuits, should anything happen. Once signed they could participate in this activity, at their own risk."

The issue is that the state would pull the permit allowing swimming at the beach. Having people sign a waiver may make it so that they can't sue will not keep the state itself from pulling the swimming permit. (Keep in mind that signing a waiver is no guarantee that the park district wouldn't get sued. Waivers have been overruled in court in the past.)

The park district needed to make a choice, continue the doggy dip and possibly be unable to open next year, or cancel it and be assured that they would open next year. They didn't have much choice in the matter.

In response to Mr. Pradel's comment, the Doggie Dip is held on the last day of the pool being open. The pool is then drained for the winter and filled again the next season. If his daughter was swimming in the pool on the day of the event, it was against the advice of the Park District and I would venture to say against the better judgment of most adults that attended that day including myself. The staff did a wonderful job of carefully monitoring and cleaning up after the dogs on a continuous basis.

The responsibility of the Park District is to provide recreational activities for all members of the community. Judging by the very large turnout at this event every year, I beleive the Park District choose a successful avtivity. I would also ask Mr. Pradel (any relation to Mayor Pradel?) what a "South Side Chicago City Pool" is like and how it is so different from a Naperville pool?

I'm glad the government stepped in and stopped this ridiculous yearly tribute to dogs. What are we, a South Side Chicago City Pool? Last year my daughter got very sick the day after the event after swiming in the pool. No doubt from the urine and feces that were rampant after this dog festival! Horray for the government!

My dog and I attended Doggie Dip for the first time last year and we both had a great time. It was wonderful to see so many different types of people and dogs having so much fun doing something so simple.

I am disappointed with what appears to be such "strong arm" tactics by the Board of Health without adequate documentation to support their stance. Perhaps the Board is reacting in response to the negative publicity generated by the 2007 U.S. Beach Survey compiled by the National Resources Defense Council that was released recently. The annual survey found many beaches in Illinois exceeded the Illinois daily bacterial(E.coli) standards on a regular basis.

According to the survey,the only regularly monitored beach that had no instances of exceeding the standard was the Wilmette Dog Beach. The Dog Beach in Chicago had the lowest exceedences of all the Chicago beaches. The survey also stated the causes of the E.coli contamination were stormwater and wildlife (bird) droppings.

Apparently it's not healthy to swim with dogs but BP can dump ammonia and suspended soilds into our swimming and drinking water and that's okay.

I agree with where is the science in this decision. This event is held after the beach is closed for the year. It is drained for the winter and refilled in the spring. It's not like our kids are swimming in it right after the event.
This is a major disappointment with officals making decisions for us.

I don't know why they are so worried about dogs when geese and ducks swim and crap at the beach all summer long.

The same code that prevents this also keeps it clean enough for your kids to swim in it.

I do feel sad for the dogs though... they were so looking forward to it and will have nothing to talk about at the doggy socials over the coming 9 months.

I agree with the health officials. Dogs have no place in a swimming pool with humans.
It is a health issue in my view. Dogs carry many and different types of pathogens. (Yes, we do too but can't screen people for it)
We need to be leaders in prevention of public health issues. Many parasites survive in their
cystic form even through the winter buried in sand. It only takes one infested dog to spread a pathogen
which may result in an unfortunate outbreak.

Personally, I was shocked to see this event a few years ago. I now feel much better that the health dept stepped in.

Yet more evidence of other people deciding what is best for us, without giving us a say. Give me a break. You pick up more germs at the supermarket.

More consequences of a society where people sue at the drop of a hat, I suppose. Let me go get my bubble wrap and helmet so I can go for a walk.
I don't know how so many of us ever survived as children before everyone protected us so well.

My dog had a blast last year. I wish we could go back again. I don't agree that it should be cancelled. Seth Levitt, 9 years old

Do you know how many kids do their business in the water, and we are nervous about dogs? Please.

I am disappointed with this seemingly arbitrary ruling as well.

What I would like to know is: What is the science behind this decision? Have e coli levels been measured after this and similar dog swim events, and have acceptable levels been breached? Or are we going on a "maybe" here?

I don't know about other dogs, but ours gets out of the water if he feels the urge to go either #1 or #2. I doubt he is unique to his species in this.

My dog had a blast at last year's dip. I am saddened that the decision was made to cancel it.

I have to make a comment about concerns with exposure to bacteria.

Are you aware that cattle are routinely fed chicken waste? Yep, chicken manure and spilled feed are fed to cows.

We can't let the dogs swim in Centennial Beach but our next burger could come from a cow-fed chicken crap.

I am very disappointed to read about the cancelled Doggie Dip at Centennial Beach. It is unfortunate that the government feels the need to *protect us from ourselves* once again by declaring this event unsafe.

Has any person, or pet, experienced any illness or problems from the past Doggie Dips?

Why not provide the information from the Illinois Department of Public Health and ask all participants to read it first and sign a waiver that would hold the State of Illinois, City of Naperville and Park District harmless from any lawsuits, should anything happen. Once signed they could participate in this activity, at their own risk.

This decision should be for the participants, not the government.