Leash Law and Dogs at Parks

Just leave purgatory alone, you've seen the support from all the dog people, and the survey was a joke, didn't even reach the whole of minnetonka. Just because a dog is off leash it doesn't automatically mean it is a problem, don't make a blanket statement that off leash dogs are a problem.

As someone who has been bit by an unleashed dog in Minnetonka, please require dogs to be leashed in public spaces not specifically designated for dogs. It is disappointing that the dogs that misbehave spoil it for the ones under control. Thank you for your help in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

The fact someone may have an irrational fear of a dog being within 6 feet of them should not mean well-behaved dogs with responsible owners cannot allow their pets to be off leash. Our Labrador retriever has spent 6 months in field training for bird hunting and heels on command. If someone has an aggressive dog who attacks a person or another animal there should be an way to report that so the few offenders are punished instead of the majority who are well behaved. Stop legislating to the few and giving in to the small number of complainers and just deal with the individual problems!

I am STRONGLY IN FAVOR of these proposed ordinances. I personally know of two small dogs on leashes who were attacked and killed by off leash dogs. The owners of both attacking dogs said their dogs were friendly. Trust me, it is a nightmare for both sides! Depending on the residency of the dog, a dangerous dog can have designations removed which is downright terrifying since it already established an unpredictable behavior. I love dogs (have fostered several) and most of the time even aggressive ones are sweet. However, it's moments like these that change families. From a less aggressive stance, I've observed off leash dogs chase after squirrels and birds in my neighborhood several times. What is to say they won't chase after another dog, a cat, or a young child? And do homeowners really want strange dogs running around their yard?

Lastly, education about not using an retractable leash could prove beneficial as most people are unaware of the risks. In fact, I would increase the distance to others and decrease the lease length as it's often hard to reel in a large dog determined to attack and the locking mechanisms have been shown to be unreliable.

Thank you for considering this! I definitely think it's a step in the right direction!

I think these changes will better protect people and their pets from unexpected harm and liability. They are not unreasonable or overly burdensome to pet owners. As a fellow dog owner I think it's unreasonable for any dog owner to expect the general public to trust that their dog is well behaved and under their complete control when unleashed. Off-leash pets also create unnecessary distractions and potential hazards in spaces where cars and bikes are in operation. Without effective communication and subsequent enforcement there's little value to the updates.

I oppose these two ordinances. We need to enforce current ordinances vs passing even more rules. This change would only hurt people that follow the rules while people who violate them continue on as normal.

I fully support the two proposed ordinances.

This is long overdue. As the comments illustrate, there are several significant reasons why our community needs these ordinances revised, namely:

1) Public safety: Off-leash dogs at large in the city or in parks pose a safety hazard to other park visitors.
2) Unenforceable ordinance: The existing ordinance is confusing and the community service officers are unable to enforce the ordinance as it's written
3) Equal access to parks: Community members are being displaced from parks because of safety concerns, owning a dog that is reactive, or from one or multiple negative experiences they've had while visiting a park.

Minnetonka is an outlier of all surrounding cities. No other community has this type of off-leash ordinance. Let's get this passed on November 18th so we have a safer, more equitable, and sustainable community and park system.

I support these ordinances for public safety reasons. Very few people actually have trained dogs able to be under voice command. Being under voice command, does NOT include pleading with the dog to come multiple times and the dog ignoring you. Additionally, very few people actually understand dog body language and behavior. I have seen extremely questionable interactions that have led to dog fights. This is dangerous for owners and dogs alike. Leashes are important. If there are going to be off-leash areas, then they need to be extremely clearly marked. That way people will have no excuse when they choose to ignore the boundaries. I also believe there needs to be more enforcement of the rules.

I oppose this ordinance and all new ordinances. Life in Minnetonka has been free, safe and wholesome. People and their pets have behaved well. However, Minnetonka has been invaded by outside authoritarian groups that intend to control all aspects of life here and impose Restorative Justice and Equal Outcome. This unnecessary, but authoritarian dog ordinance is just one small step towards their goals. Open your eyes and recognize the overall situation. Resist any attempt to decrease freedom.

I am in favor of both new ordinances. In my own neighborhood, I've been attacked by dogs who are not leashed.

I, 100%, support the ordinances. I only hope that they will be enforced, with consequences for those not complying. Many people are uncomfortable being around unleashed dogs, and many leashed dogs can become reactive when approached by an unleashed dog. Thank you, very much, for addressing this ongoing problem.

I think all dogs should be on a leash. I’ve seen too many people attacked by even their own dogs. These people that have been attacked by their own dogs have commented how they can’t believe their dog would ever attack them. I’ve seen too many other dogs that are on leashes want to attack other dogs (that are behaving) that are off leash. Leaving all dogs on leashes allows for less lawsuits and less spread of diseases between dogs. I feel for people that want to have their dog off leash, but we live in a heavy populated area that it just is not possible to allow it without ramifications.

I support both ordinances. Currently, every time I find myself in Purgatory Park, there are way too many off-leashed animals, and they are NOT usually all that well-behaved. Not everyone wants to be approached, sniffed, touched, and even jumped on by unfamiliar dogs. Some people are allergic to them. I am a fully grown adult and can generally fend for myself, but I can only imagine how terrifying such encounters can be to children. If these ordinances pass and, IMPORTANTLY, are enforced, I will definitely go to the Purgatory Park more often.

Why not establish on leash only areas too?

This is really sad, with all the pressing issues we face, why punish all well behaved dogs and their owners? How many people have really been hurt by dogs off leash? How many have been hurt by dogs on leash? People need speak up and encourage our officials to stop spending our time and resources on issues like this and more time and energy on real serious more humans face!

Our family has had to stop walking in Purgatory Park due to the number of off-leash dogs on the paved path. We tell them they are in violation of City ordinance, but they don't seem to care. The problem is enforcement of the ordinance, and many non-residents come to this park who aren't aware or don't follow the posted signs.

I oppose the new regulations. The existing regulations are adequate and the new proposal would significantly diminish my (and my dog's) enjoyment of our daily walks. We walk in unmaintained areas and rarely meet any other people or dogs. My dog is on a leash between my home and the unmaintained areas. Dog parks are unsatisfactory areas for us since it is nearly impossible to avoid the many untrained and poorly supervised dogs.

I support the two ordinances.

Areas where dogs should not be allowed should include all environmentally significant or sensitive areas such as wetlands, stream banks or a prairie remnant whether they are currently undergoing restoration or not. These areas need to be CLEARLY noted in the master planning process and identified with park signs. The public needs to be educated about these areas and why they are important and being protected.

How will the new ordinances be enforced? What are the consequences for violating the ordinances?

An off leash dog area will be important to include somewhere in the city and should be placed in an environmentally degraded area such as the proposed area in PURG.

Thank you for addressing this issue. We have been behind and out of step with other cities in our area.

I am absolutely in favor of requiring dogs to be leashed while outside of their yard. There are so many owners who are not in control of their dogs which creates unsafe situations for other people and animals. There are plenty of spaces where the city could offer designated off-lease play areas. PLEASE adopt an ordinance requiring leashes!

I support these two ordinances, especially because as the owner of a rescue dog that is fearful of other dogs and can be reactive, the knowledge that other dogs cannot just approach her is very comforting.