The wet dog just couldn't get away.

Rogue, a Norwegian Elkhound, squirmed and tried to squirt away as the people washed him. But in the end, he came out a cleaner dog.

Giullieta Meraz, 7, reacts as Mike, a Wheaton terrier, shares his bath with her Saturday at the Emma Goldman Cllinic’s dog wash. Press-Citizen/Zach Boyden-Holmes

"I figured he wouldn't mind too much if he got washed in the cold," said Rogue's owner, Keri Neblett, 33, of Iowa City. "He didn't like that very much."

Neblett was one of about 50 dog owners who, despite a persistent light rain, brought their dogs to the Emma Goldman Clinic's fifth annual Dog Wash. The dog washing party was designed to help raise money for those who sought reproductive health care at the clinic.

The washing also was meant to celebrate the passage of the American with Disabilities Act. Goldman Clinic development director Harriet Woodford said the two events occurred on the same day, with an ADA event of people auditing businesses on the pedestrian mall for handicapped accessibility happening during the dog wash.

"We were just having our celebration at the same time," Woodford said. "Then we started talking about accessibility in the community and even though it's kind of a stretch to say accessibility for women and their health care. Their issues are about physical accessibility, so we decided to combine our celebration."

Statements by people who have service dogs were canceled because of the rain, clinic executive director Karen Kubby said. However, she said the dog wash did help some people who own larger dogs.

"It was a fun way to provide a service for the community," Kubby said. "A lot of people have large dogs that it is difficult for them to manage washing them on their own, so that's something we can do. The staff has a really good time doing it and the volunteers are here to help out."

Tony Pei, 36, of Iowa City, worked a variety of jobs during the three-hour wash time, including snapping souvenir Polaroids of the cleaner dogs and their owners.

"I really like dogs and I'm for choice," Pei said. "This combines the two interests. It's actually a lot of fun. I'm just helping out any way I can."

Neblett said she had been on her way from the Thanksgiving in July celebration down the street at Lower City Park when she opted to get Rogue washed.

"I support the Emma Goldman Clinic, and this is a fun way to do it," she said. "It's a good cause and he needed a bath anyway after rolling around in the mud today."

Doris Myers of Iowa City brought her dog Sonny for a wash, something she has done since the Goldman Clinic's first dog wash in 2000.

"The truth is he's not crazy about the baths, as many dogs aren't," Myers said. "But here, it's in and out, so it works. Supporting Goldman Clinic, we want to do that."