Splish, splash, pups have a blast at Weiss Entities Lakes of Valparaiso Puppy Plunge

Tails were wagging all around as Weiss Entities’ furriest residents made a big splash at the annual Lakes of Valparaiso Puppy Plunge on Friday, September 5. The event brought together the apartment complex’s residents, along with their friends, family, and animal companions, for one of the last outdoor celebrations of the season, marking a perfect conclusion of the dog days of summer.

The Puppy Plunge is a highly anticipated event that The Lakes of Valparaiso residents, both of two and four legs, look forward to each year. Even with a slight autumn chill beginning to inch its way into the air during Friday’s event, everyone had a blast while chatting amongst themselves and taking a dip in the pool throughout the afternoon. 

Sarah Solvan, a Lakes of Valparaiso resident, was thrilled to attend the Puppy Plunge for the second time. She noted how happy her dog was at the previous event, and appreciates that the Lakes of Valparaiso community – which embraces all residents including pets – finds fun and unique ways to demonstrate this inclusivity through events like the Puppy Plunge.

“Our dog Lilly loves it. We knew she enjoyed it because she loves to swim, so we wanted to bring her back out,” Solvan said. “I think it’s really nice because the Lakes of Valparaiso has created such a great community, especially for our dogs – our dogs are a major part of our families as well.”

First time Puppy Plungers quickly got in on the fun, too. This was Lakes of Valparaiso Resident Scott Burczak’s first time at the event, alongside his wife and beagles Hemie and Samson, as the group moved in just eight months prior. However, his pets absolutely love being in the water, so upon hearing about the Puppy Plunge, he knew they all had to dive right in.

“We had a pool at our old house that we had before we came here, and the dogs just loved it,” he said. “Now, they don’t really get that opportunity, but the wait for today was definitely worth it.”

Al Ayala has had the chance to see Puppy Plunge from a couple of different perspectives, first as a Lakes of Valparaiso resident, and later as a maintenance tech for the complex. While his role may have changed over the years, his love for pets and for the Puppy Plunge has remained constant, and he noted it’s an absolute blast as he returned for his third time on Friday. 

“It’s so nice to have an event for the dogs – I just love them,” he said. “I drive around a cart and I have dog biscuits for them. It’s fun watching the dogs do tricks, getting exercise, and seeing all their different personalities.”

Residents of all ages also had the chance to catch up with one another as their dogs took some laps in the pool. Whether they were brand new to the Lakes of Valparaiso, have been living at the complex for a while, or anything in between, the Puppy Plunge has always been a fun time for each and every resident alike.

As one of the complex’s newcomers, Burczak picked up on this atmosphere immediately, catching up with familiar faces while getting to know plenty of new folks as well. It was an instant reminder that when he moved to the Lakes of Valparaiso earlier this year, he not only found a new living space, but truly a forever home.

“We’ve even made some friends with a few other residents who we’ve been able to see today,” Burczak said. “Everybody has been very nice, and the Puppy Plunge has been a good time.”

Before they said their goodbyes for the day, each furry friend who attended also received a specialized goodie bag to take home after their swim.

To learn more about The Lakes of Valparaiso and other fun events the complex has in store, please visit lovthelife.com. The Lakes of Valparaiso is additionally a component of Weiss Entities, a group of real estate properties across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. To become a part of the community today, visit weissentities.com.