Dogs splashed in kiddie pools and families gathered under the sun as the St. David’s Veterinary Clinic hosted its annual community appreciation barbecue to celebrate the close bonds between pet owners, their animals and clinic staff.

The yearly get-together celebrates the community among families, veterinarians and pets at the clinic.

“We love the community. We’re a part of it and we’re thankful for everybody in the clinic who supports us,” said Stephanie Hall, a vet at the clinic.

One of the dogs, Maverick, is a lab and was rehomed by Hall. She said the clinic has given 15 pets new homes, the most common case being when one owner becomes unable to care for the pet.

“He was a client’s dog, and the gentleman … found that he wasn’t able to take care of him because he was quite boisterous,” Hall said. “So we said to him, ‘If you need a new home for this pet, just let us know.’”

Maverick’s current owners are friends with Hall and already had pets with the clinic, highlighting the tight community at the clinic the barbecue aimed to celebrate.

The event included raffle prize baskets, a bounce house and, of course, a barbecue. Some dogs took a dip in a small kids’ pool to beat the heat.

Despite the heat wave, the clinic’s community, both pet owners and dogs, still took part in the outdoor event.