850 Canines Take World’s Biggest Doggie Bath

by Patricia Collier

Big dogs, little dogs, cute dogs, ugly dogs. A bunch of dirty dogs in Australia have become famous just for getting soaped up.

The animals were participants in a mega doggie bath held September 14 at the Sydney Olympic Park. The event was a successful bid for inclusion into the Guinness World Records by twelve college kids.

They bathed about 850 dogs in eight hours.

The dog washers, veterinary science students at the University of Sydney, broke the previous world record held by a group from the Netherlands, who washed 715 canines.

A spokeswoman for the students said the group was "elated, delighted, and exhausted."

"They are very pleased (that) Sydney brought all its dirty dogs to Homebush today," she said. "There were chihuahuas, great danes, the hairiest dogs ever seen, and dogs that were almost bald."

The bathing spectacular was part of the University of Sydney Veterinary Science Foundation’s efforts to raise funds for animal health and welfare.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.