(Enlarge) Sandra Pressman, of Clarksville, washes Devins, a German Shepherd-Chow Chow mix, during the K-9 Support Dog Wash at Dogtopia in Clarksville on July 13. The event was held as a fundraiser to benefit working military dogs and their handlers in Iraq. (Staff photo by Eli Meir Kaplan)

Dogs of all shapes and sizes crowded into the waiting area of Dogtopia, in Clarksville. They sniffed each other, sometimes barked and growled at each other, and often hid behind their owners.

The dogs, and their owners, had come to the dog day care and grooming shop for baths. Not so momentous, when said like that, but it's what those baths were for that was the real attraction.

July 13 was the first K-9 Support Dog Wash at the Clarksville Dogtopia, but the fourth annual event for the company. Dogtopia employees were on hand to give the dogs baths and trim their nails for a monetary donation, and all the money raised went to benefit a group of dogs often forgotten -- working military dogs in Iraq.

Sue Dietrich, who owns the facility with her husband Ron, said she plans to use the money raised to buy things for both the dogs and their handlers.

"One of our employees just came back from Iraq, so I plan to talk to him about what sort of things they need over there," she said. "But we've been given a list of guidelines of what to buy from Dogtopia, and we get to buy it ourselves. We're hoping to send some doggles (goggles to keep the blowing sand and sun out of the dog's eyes), booties for their feet to protect them from the sand, dog toys and some things for their handlers like chapstick."

In all, 51 dogs were bathed in four hours and more than $1,000 was raised for the working dogs in Iraq.

"It exceeded our expectations. We ran over to finish all the dogs we had in line. We were still going until after 4 (p.m.)," Dietrich said, adding that several of the people were new to Dogtopia. "The majority were new people. It sounded like a number of them came a good distance. They weren't all local."

Dietrich was quick to point out that the added supplies they will send does not mean the Army is ignoring its working dogs.

"This is in addition to what the Army provides," she said. "We think any extra little bit helps."

Giving back

The annual dog wash fundraiser was created by Dogtopia founder Amy Nichols, who was trying to think of a charitable way to give back to animals, Dietrich said. In the last four years, the nonprofit arm of the company -- K-9 Support -- has raised more than $25,000 and sent more than 5,000 pounds of supplies to Iraq.

In addition to the doggles and booties, Dietrich hopes to be able to send other items include cooling vests and pads for the dogs, as well as heat-resistant clothing.

Dog owners who came for the fundraiser were also encouraged to write a note on cards supplied by Dogtopia.

"We'd like to send messages to the troops," Dietrich said.

Dogtopia of Clarksville has been open since May 2007, Dietrich said. The facility specializes in dog day care and boarding and each room has its own monitor on the wall, so visitors and staff can keep close watch on the dogs. In addition, there is an outside exercise yard for the dogs for during the day, and owners can log in to a Web cam to see what their dog is doing while in the day care.

Grooming is also available, Dietrich said, as well as obedience classes taught by a dog trainer on site.

Customer contributes

Dietrich had eight people washing dogs for the fundraiser. Seven were Dogtopia employees, and one was a loyal customer.

"Our No. 1 customer," she joked.

Sandra Pressman, of Clarksville, came out on a sunny Sunday to spend four hours up to her elbows in dog fur and suds.

"I'm a great animal lover," she said. "Anything I can do to help out animals is very important to me. Animals are my great passion. And my dogs come to daycare here. I just think the world of them."

Also important to Pressman was helping the working dogs.

"I just think it's terrific that we can do something to help the dogs who are on the front lines, also risking their lives."

To learn more about Dogtopia or K-9 Support, go to www.dogdaycare.com.

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