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Politics & Government

Barking and Snapping Highlight Meeting Over Dakota Dog Park

Tempers flair and profanity prevails in dispute between big and little dog owners.

In classic Western movies, a recurring theme is often the cattlemen versus the sheepherders over grazing rights.

Inside the late Tuesday afternoon, a similar theme was played out. Only it was big dogs versus little dogs. Or rather, big dog owners versus little dog owners, arguing over access to the dog park.

At issue are segregated areas set aside for big dogs and little dogs. Following 90 minutes in which people hurled obscenities at each other, it was decided that a gate that separates the two areas will be permanently locked to keep the two groups separate. In addition, a camera will be installed for at least two months to record how many people use both areas, a report from the parks department will be made, and then the whole thing will be turned over to the parks commission to see if resolution is possible.

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Small dogs, in the mind of the city, are defined as being less than 20 pounds. Large dogs are 20 pounds and larger.

Several years ago, the city decided these separated areas needed to be created, ostensibly to protect the small dogs. However, small dogs can go into the big dogs area, but not vice versa. The large dog owners are complaining that the small dog area gets next to no use.

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This got Roni Fisher riled up quickly. Fisher, who used to live in St. Louis Park but now resides in Minnetonka, has a small dog and claims “the large dog owners intimidate the small dog owners,” which keeps usage of the small dog area down.

Mike McDonald, who is head of the Dakota Canine Club and a large dog owner himself, volleyed back at Fisher, and the discussion quickly degenerated.

“The small dog area is too big for the amount of use it gets,” McDonald charged. “We have far more use by the big dog owners and there are sometimes 30 to 40 big dogs there at one time.”

“That’s bull—,” Fisher snapped. “I’ve been there a lot and I have never seen anything close to 30 to 40 large dogs.”

Rick Birno, St. Louis Park's recreation superintendent, eventually told Fisher and McDonald to control themselves and stop making the matter personal.

“In my 30 years of being in this business, I have never received more calls and complaints on any facility in St. Louis Park than I have on this dog park,” Birno said.

Birno and Rick Beane, the parks and recreation official who has responsibility for each of the department’s facilities, said they hope to go before the parks commission by the end of October with data so some resolution can be reached.

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