Get Outside, Golden Valley!

Ride Safely and Watch Out for Dogs

The Humane Society has some extra safety precautions for hitting the bike trails this summer.

Now that we have a glimmer of hope that summer is finally on its way, there are endless combined biking and walking paths around town to take full advantage of, especially on beautiful Sundays like today. But one thing to keep in mind is that it’s also prime time for all the beautiful animals to come out and play. So if you do decide to take a bike ride, please keep in mind you’ll have to watch out for man’s best friend, because things can quickly become hazardous if safety measures aren’t properly taken! Here are some important things Animal Humane Society Trainer Kate Varns wants bikers to keep in mind:  Here’s to safe and sweet summer bike rides!    

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VIDEO: Thousands Brave the Rain to Walk for Animals

Saturday's terrible weather didn't keep animal lovers from the 37th Annual walk.

Despite the wind and pouring rain, the Animal Humane Society saw a massive turnout at the 2011 Walk for Animals fundraising event at Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley this weekend. The event is the nation's largest walk for animals, and the 37th annual Walk for Animals was no exception. I also braved the weather to meet up with dog, cat and even goat owners.

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Video: Three Options for Golden Valley Dog Park on the Table

The Minneapolis Park Board is looking at three spots at Theo Wirth, but they want more input from you.

Finding an open space in Golden Valley for dogs to run free has proven to be a tough challenge for residents and the city council.  But with money to invest in Theodore Wirth Park, the Minneapolis Park Board is now getting serious about creating a dog park. Theo Wirth falls under the park board's juristiction, but Golden Valley does have a representative on the Citizen Advisory Committee, a committee that will ultimately decide if and where a dog park will be built. The committee is paying close attention to the nearly 2000 surveys that were completed regarding the northern part of Theo Wirth. "To get that many completed surveys in 18 days is nothing short of amazing," Jennifer Ringold, manager of public engagement for the Minneapolis Park…

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VIDEO: What's Next for Wirth - Dog Park? New Trails? You Decide.

From increasing safety to adding unique features, the Minneapolis Park Board has some money to spend, but it needs your help deciding how to spend it.

Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley is about to get some big improvements, thanks to millions in availalble funds over the next few years from the Minneapolis Park Board. There are several options in front of the board - from creating Golden Valley's first dog park to improving trails or adding buildings. Instead of waiting to see what changes are made, the board wants to know what you think.  Golden Valley's sole representative on the Citizen's Advisory Committee for Theo Wirth says he's having trouble getting the word out. "If you've got a strong opinion, I need to know about it," says Damon Struyk.  "We might not agree, but let's have an open and civil discussion about it.  I don't want people to tell me down the road that they wish …

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Fed Up With the Snow? Try This Indoor Dog Park

Dog licenses and potential outdoor dog parks have been hot topics in city council meetings, but if you're tired of waiting, there's a nearby park you can use right now... despite the winter weather.

Now that Golden Valley is planning to get rid of dog licenses, some discussion has pointed to the city creating its own dog park so owners wouldn't have to pay a licensing fee in another city to use its dog parks. But many ideas are either very early in the planning stages or have been shot down completely. Now there's an alternative.  The west metro's Bark Park opened last week about three miles outside Golden Valley in Minnetonka.  It's a canine-only, temperature-controlled, indoor play park. And just four hours after opening its doors, Bark Park’s motto—an indoor park where dogs can be dogs—had become a reality. “Dogs are like many people’s kids,” co-owner Mindy Banko said. “We’re looking for this to be a community center for dogs and …

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Are Dog Licenses On the Way Out in Golden Valley?

The City Council says it's back to its original plan of eliminating them because of high administrative costs and increased use of chip technology.

It's not just cats that have more than one life. In Golden Valley, it’s also dogs. At Tuesday night’s City Council/Manager meeting, the on-again-off-again issue of whether to elminate city dog licenses was back on - with the good chance licenses will be eliminated altogether. The council originally planned to get rid of the licensing program after Police Chief Stacy Altonen said it was too expensive to maintain.  But after hearing from several residents and pet owners who wanted to keep the licenses, the council decided to take a closer look at the current program and potential options. But if Tuesday night’s positions taken by each of the five council members were any indication, the council is moving back to its original position, and …

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City Changes Mind on Dog Licensing—Will a Dog Park be Next?

Golden Valley says it's open to creating a new dog-friendly space. The only question is where.

Golden Valley city council members admit, when they first considered eliminating dog licensing, they hadn't considered the cost to the hundreds of dog owners in the city. On Tuesday night, the council voted to continue discussions on the dog licensing. Maintaining the current program by increasing fees will be discussed at the March 8 council manager meeting at City Hall. Golden Valley doesn't have any public dog parks, and if you want to bring your pooch to a Minneapolis park, it has to be licensed. If not for $6 in Golden Valley, you can have the dog licensed in Minneapolis for about $50. The council has talked about moving to a fee of $15 that's used in Crystal. “There’s a level of comfort to me that there is a license that you’re …

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