Secrets of the City

I keep my dog on the leash, except in our fenced back yard. End of problem.

I loved taking my dog to the dog park… met some great people and got my dog plenty of exercise… a license didn’t cost me that much, though, so I would say it depends on your budget and how much you plan to use the park…

Can’t speak for the St. Paul dog parks, but the minneapolis once are very cool. Especially the one by lake of the isles.

I have never seen a person checking if people have permits, and I suspect a good portion of people that come there do not have them, but don’t know.

I paid $50 to license my dog and get a permit. It is a yearly cost but I don’t mind it. Paying taxes for amenities is fine with me (not cool to pay taxes for war).

I would recommend getting the permit, because if no one pays for the dogparks, then they will probably go down the toilet.

Also, google “dog park etiquette” so because curious situations often arise.

If you dog is social, they’ll love the park. My pup runs like crazy around there and interacts with the other dogs for a combined good time.

I believe that you would have to license your dog in St. Paul but then would be able to use Minneapolis parks for free. At least, that’s how I interpreted the application on the city’s website:

I know of two good off leash parks on the St. Paul side. Our favorite is in Battle Creek Park just east of McKnight on Lower Afton Road. There’s another one at Arlington & Arkwright on the near East Side.

As long as the dog is licenesed and vaccinated, there is no onerous municipal fee. Unlike Mpls, they don’t make you plug a meter for your evil car, either.

I keep my dog on the leash, except in our fenced back yard. End of problem.

How very helpful of you Bob.

Can anyone tell me what the Minneapolis dog license (not dogpark permit) fees goes to? 30 bucks per year, or $200 lifetime seems a little steep, for that price why should I have to get a dog park permit as well?

What I want to know is where are all the off-leash cat parks. I demand equal treatment for my fuzzy little monsters!

a.) i’d love to have a fenced-in backyard, but don’t. can i use yours?

b.) i’m not saying i’m not going to necessarily get a license, just that, presented with a fine bright day like today, could i go to the dog park and probably not get busted?

c.) i’m pretty sure the city of minneapolis wants you to get a minneapolis off-leash permit, even if the dog lives in saint paul, since they have a rate specifically for that of $60. saint paul dog licenses look cheaper, to the tune of $11.

I haven’t been busted, but I have seen “cops” out many times. Usually on weekends and nice days, but that might just be because I tend to stay at the dog park longer on weekends and nice days. The fine is about double the cost of the license, so I’d say it is worth it to be safe.

St. Paul license fees do not cover Minneapolis Dog Park fees. It requires another form and another fee.

If you do not have the license and have not paid the dog park fee – the worse that’s going to happen is that those that deem themselves the “authority” will possibly harass you. I have heard a number of complaints about that.

Otherwise I don’t bring my dogs to them. First off I refuse to pay the fees that should already be covered in my ever escalating property taxes but I also live close to Edina which has a number of unofficial areas where you can hook up with folks with dogs. All fun, all responsible, and no idiots like justpbob.

mcp, my ex would take his dog to the park down by the river (The Minnehaha park) all the time without either permit and never got busted. I would say you’re fine.

In addition to the great parks mentioned by Octaneboy there are many unofficial dog parks and wooded areas in Saint Paul where your dog can run offleash.

Though, I wouldn’t advise it unless your dog is well trained, stays close, will not chase, and returns immediately when called.

I used to go to the Minnehaha park often, and while I had licenses the first couple of years I didn’t for the third year that I had my dog because the city didn’t feel the need to send notices and/or bills when the license expired. Apparently you were supposed to remember yourself.

Once I realized I’d let the both the dog license and the off-leash permit lapse I figured I had an alibi on the renewal issue. My dog was still wearing her year-old tags.

If the animal control officer was a jerk well then I’d pay the fine.

I’ve never seen people get ticketed at any of the “official” Minneapolis dog parks, but have heard plenty of peeps griping about it.

There’s a dog park near the airport that requires no city license, tho. It’s off 28th Ave., with entrances behind the MAC building. Technically, the land is owned by MAC. The occasional whiff of benzene in the air is an added bonus!!

But seriously, it’s a great park. Depending on how close you are to the airport, I’d suggest giving it a whirl.

“off-leash cat parks.”

Wow, the pictures that brings to mind. Just imagining myself and my little turds in such a situation. **shudder**

I keep my dog on the leash, except in our fenced back yard. End of problem.

How very helpful of you Bob.

Actually, I’m just an over-protective owner of a timid little “rescue dog” who used to be owned by an animal horder in Indiana. He might do just fine with other dogs, or he might not.

It’s a moot point, as there isn’t an off-lease park in our ‘hood anyway.

yeah, i pretty much need the fenced in kind of park, because my pup is a shiba inu, and they’re not ones to come immediately back. he’s one of the better ones for recalls, according to the woman who taught our obedience class, but he’s still got an independent streak.

went to the park near my place anyways, didn’t get busted, ran the dog ragged, and met a nice great dane as well. i would say i’m willing to pay up for the fees since it’s nice to have the parks and i don’t pay minneapolis taxes. i’m not sure how i’m going to get a minneapolis dog license w/o a mpls address, tho’.

and thanks for the suggestion about the one by the airport. i think someone else mentioned that to me as well.

I’ve written about St. Paul dog parks for the St. Paul neighborhood papers and think the previous posters have done good jobs summarizing the issues, various fees, etc.
I don’t own a dog but dog-sit frequently for neighbors and have never seen anyone ticketed at either St. Paul dog park. But I’ve seen (and written about) people who run their dogs at other city parks and get ticketed. For every dog who stays with his owner and comes when he is called, you get another critter who just runs wild. (The dog, not the owner.) You also get owners who leave dog droppings on the kids playground and ball fields.
That ticketing is what led to a proposal last year to see if neighborhood parks in Mac-Groveland could be used for off-leash dogs at posted times and when there weren’t ball games and other organized activities in the park. People came out in droves for the neighborhood meeting and the district council shot the idea down. Part of the issue was that city parks and recreation staff had met with a few neighbors and gone a long ways in planning the idea before taking it to the greater community, the district council and even to the City Council members whose wards included the parks. I have to wonder if there had been more inclusion earlier if there had been more buy-in, but. . .
What came out of all of that are two task forces that are looking for new off-leash dog park locations, one set up by the parks commission and the other by the Mac-Groveland district council. We’ll probably see some recommended sites proposed soon.

I was busted many times while I lived in So. MPLS.

In St. Paul you can try Battle Creek. I was never pestered there and the park is WWAAYY better than anything in MPLS. The people are very friendly here and I made a lot of nice dog contacts.

Oh I can’t wait for the snow to melt and the parks to smell like sh*t .. .. aaahhhhhhhhh [cough .. wheeez] spring

mcp, there’s a nice park all the way out in the Coon Rapids, Osseo, Maple Grove corner that’s fenced in and doesn’t seem all license crazy. Not sure if you’d want to drive out there tho. It’s in the Three Rivers system of parks.

i’m not sure how i’m going to get a minneapolis dog license w/o a mpls address, tho’.

MInneapolis will give you a permit but it will cost $60 instead of $35 since you are not a resident.

Mineapolis Represent!

okay, if you really have to, skip the dog park permit, but c’mon get your dog licensed. it’s the, dare I say it . . . responsible . . . thing to do.

tell me more about this responsibility. i’m not saying i’m not willing to get a license for my dog, but he’s been vaccinated against rabies and fixed, so what does paying the state do other than pay the state?

primarily, for the sake of your dog, if it should get lost, you can be reunited in an embrace that would rival a scene out of a Nora Ephron flick.

second, if you are using the dog parks, I want to see a license on your dog and others so I know they have had their shots and – presumably – are being taken care of when they are interacting with my dog (and me).

I believe that you would have to license your dog in St. Paul but then would be able to use Minneapolis parks for free.

A permit for Minneapolis’s off-leash parks is $50 a year, (info here), along with proof of license and rabies vaccination. Now’s a good time to get one, because the permits run February-to-February.

I’ve never gotten pinched for not having a tag, but before I got one, I would make sure to enter the Minnehaha off-leash park via the bike trail whenever I saw an Animal Control van in the parking lot.

an eminently reasonable set of reasons, spaceman. i’m generally in favor of responsibility, so i’ll be getting a license once i pull together his vet records for the rabies vaccination and neutering.

I take my dog to the airport dog park about 3 times a week. It is one of the only parks that you can go to without paying for the off leash permit. It is nice for me because I sometimes have foster dogs that are not licensed at all. This year I am going to pay for the other parks because the Minnehaha Park is close for me and really nice. It is worth trying the airport dog park – without the risk of being fined – to see if you want to pay to go to the other parks. At other parks, I have heard of people being fined if they do not have a permit – I am not sure how much. I went once without a permit, but would not make a habit out of it.

A license will not find a pet nearly as fast as getting your pet Chipped with a Home Again chip. For less than $100 you can get your pet chipped and a life time registration to the service. Nearly every animal control person, vet, shelter has a scanner and they use them. Plus if your pet loses his collar the license is worthless.

Yesterday was SPAY DAY USA. If you haven’t had your pet spayed or neutered please consider doing this. It makes for healthier pets that live longer and have fewer behavioral problems.

I haven’t ever licensed my dog but he never leaves the fenced yard without a leash and we don’t dog park since he is rather wee and fragile I would be afraid of some bigger dog breaking him. He is up on his shots although he needs a pedicure badly!

Glad to hear it.

As for getting fined, I used to see patrols all the time three/four years ago, but can’t remember the last time I’ve seen one at the Franklin or Minnehaha dog parks (the all-enclosed Franklin one would be decent for your shiba inu). Makes me wonder what the fees are being spend for.

Also, on the St. Paul side, another non-official dog spot during the winter only is the Town & Country golf course — you know off Marshall Ave, where all the kids go sledding. It is awesome skiing & snowshoeing during the winter, and no one has ever said anything about having dogs run loose there.

I also recommend the airport “dog park.” On a good day (e.g., Sunday afternoons when the weather is nice) there are as many as 100 dogs and their owners there. We loved going there with our dogs (my lab tore his ACL and so is no longer a good candidate for dog parks). But, please, do the right thing and bring plastic bags and pick up after your dog. It’s a big, open space that is completely self-regulated by the visitors, so do your part to keep it nice to come back to.

I started going to the minneapolis dog parks with a friends dog – without a license, and had no problem for about a year. Then I got a dog, and risked it for another 6 months. Then we got busted.

We were only fined for not having an off-leash license: $75.
The “kind” officer let us off without charging the fine for not having a dog licensed with the city on Minneapolis: $125

So, you can risk it, but you could get nailed for $200. If you are going to risk it, it’s best to avoid reeeeeaally nice days. If the weather has been crummy, and then there’s suddenly a nice day… that’s when the enforcers seem to show up. Usually they bring two people, and enter from both ends of the park – at least the one in NE Minneapolis.

I haven’t seen enforcement at the Minnehaha park, but it’s so huge that it would be harder to catch someone, you could probably just ignore your dog and keep walking until you’re away from the officer.