By Meredeth Barzen

It’s a good time to be a dog in the Twin Cities. With more and more dog-friendly restaurant patios, dog-friendly stores and lovely pet boutiques popping up every day, that much is obvious. But what you might not realize is that our area is on the verge of a dog park explosion, with multiple new parks either proposed, being built or newly completed. And when you take into account the many existing dog parks where our four-legged friends can romp, play and socialize, it’s a very good time to be a dog indeed. Here’s an update on some of the newest additions and potential players in the dog park scene:

The newly completed Brookdale dog park.

Brookdale Dog Park, Brooklyn Park: COMPLETED!

This new off-leash park at 7650 June Avenue North was built just two weeks ago by the employees of the Brooklyn Park Home Depot, which also donated the fencing and supplies for the project. The City of Brooklyn Park installed lighting, signage, other amenities and a drinking fountain for the city’s estimated 6,000 to 10,000 canine residents. A $3.00 daily use fee is required or a current Brooklyn Park dog license, which non-residents can obtain. Don’t miss the grand opening celebration Monday, August 16 with a “Leash Cutting” ceremony at 6 p.m and live music at 8 p.m.

Andover Dog Park: PROPOSED

Advocates of a proposed off-leash park for Andover, MN met with the Andover Park & Rec Commission on July 15 to discuss the issue—and they came armed with almost 450 petition signatures and four potential sites for the park. According to the group’s website, “The Park & Rec Commission thanked us for the presentation and asked for time to review the local dog parks and the four parks suggested. There will be another meeting in September to further discuss the Andover Dog Park project.” If you’d like to join the efforts, you can add your name to the petition or e-mail AndoverDogPark@gmail.com for more information.

Kingfield Dog Park, Southwest Minneapolis: PROPOSED

The proposal for an off-leash area in Southwest Minneapolis’ Martin Luther King Memorial Park is not without controversy: According to a July 26, 2010 story by the Star Tribune’s Randy Furst, some residents “believe the 18 1/2-acre park is hallowed ground, named for the greatest civil rights leader in American history, and not a place where dogs should run loose.” The story also reports that an informal poll held last month found 47 in favor of an enclosed dog park on the site, 30 against, and three maybes.

Says Brook Lemm-Tabor, an advocate of the park who is closely involved with the process, “The park commissioners at one point promised an off-leash park in every district. Our district, the sixth district, is the only one without a park. Also, we have the largest number of annual dog licenses purchased annually yet the lowest number of additional off leash permits. The parts of the park that we propose to develop are very under utilized by the general public. We have been agreeable to changes requested by the park board staff to review other locations within the park to further develop other under used areas. We have done outreach to the surrounding communities and received great support.” She adds that there are rumors the park board has earmarked some funds to get the basics underway, but the group will need to raise more to make the project work.

The Kingfield Dog Park advocacy group, a task force of the Kingfield Neighborhood Association, has a very active Facebook page with updates and news. If you’d like to get involved, you can attend an open meeting on Thursday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Park gym. Or, buy a snappy Kingfield Dog Park T-shirt to get the word out. You can also visit the group’s website for a long list of ways to help out.

Stillwater Dog Park: PROPOSED

Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park (FSADP), which proposed this off-leash area at a yet-to-be-determined site, raised more than $700 for the dog park at a June 9th Yappy Hour at Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque. “We are still plugging away at raising funds, which is our main obstacle at this point. We are seeking grants and corporate sponsorships,” says Allison McGinnis, FSADP president. “There is definitely a growing interest and need for a dog park in the Stillwater area. Area residents (including those in Wisconsin) currently drive to St.Paul and White Bear Lake area to exercise their dogs. Having a dog park in the Stillwater area would benefit the whole community.” For more info or to help this cause, visit the group’s Facebook page, e-mail Stillwater city officials to tell them you’d like a dog park in Stillwater, or make a donation here.

Victory Prairie Dog Park, North Minneapolis: COMPLETED!

North Minneapolis dedicated a brand new dog park at 47th and Sheridan Ave. N. last month, christened the Victory Prairie Off-Leash Recreation Area. “The dog park will not only provide dogs with a safe place to play and exercise, but also a way for the Northside neighbors to come together,” said Jon Olson, MPRB District 2 Commissioner before the dedication. “We appreciate all the work the Webber, Camden and Victory neighborhood associations and many other residents did to help us pull this project together.” Both off-leash recreation area permits from the MPRB and pet licenses from the City of Minneapolis Animal Care & Control are required to use the park, the first of its kind in North Minneapolis.

St. Paul Dog Parks: PROPOSED

STPdog (St. Paul Dog Owner’s Group) is an informal advocacy organization working to bring more dog parks —or, as STPdog calls them, “parks for people with dogs”—to the city of St. Paul. Led by Jan Carr, who is tireless in his efforts, the group’s members include animal communicator Lena Swanson, The Canine Coach trainer Maureen Haggerty and Wendy Harter, owner of Dog Days doggie daycare. And they’ve done their homework: The group has put together a thorough breakdown of dog parks in St. Paul by the numbers. If you’d also like to see more dog parks in St. Paul, you can join the group’s e-mail list, Google discussion group and/or Facebook group.

By Meredeth Barzen

A pup gobbles up a sweet treat at 2008's Paws on Grand event.

As if this summer weren’t full enough with events celebrating great neighborhoods and their four-legged friends, we’ve got another one to tell you about: This Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., St. Paul’s Grand Avenue will be packed with pups for the Paws on Grand event.

For the fifth year, the Grand Avenue Business Association is turning the popular shopping and dining district into a Fido fest, with free pet clinics behind the Grand Avenue Veterinary Center (1 p.m. First Aid presented by Own Your Pets Life, 2 p.m. Animal Communication presented by Pure Spirit and 3 p.m. Clicker Training presented by On Cue Training & Behavior), pet food collection for The Pet Project and a “Pet Picks” contest (submit your pet’s photo and he could be featured in Minneapolis Picks, named Poster Pet for 2011 Paws on Grand and receive a gift bag of goodies).

Many of Grand Ave.’s businesses are holding specials, deals and activities for the event: At Dog Days, trainer Linda Schindler will be answering questions and you can get your dog’s nails trimmed for $5. At Frattallone’s Ace Hardware, visit some adoptable pups from Homeward Bound Rescue—and if one catches your eye and goes home with you, you’ll get a $50 gift card to the store. The Bibelot Shop is offering 20 percent off all pet-related items, and the list goes on!

It’s a be-there-or-be-square kind of event, and as Sidewalk Dog is anything but square, you can be sure we’re choosing the first option and showing up with bells on. So stop by and say hi!

By Meredeth Barzen

Officer Kevin Rofidal and Kodiak talking about the K-9 Unit's work.

What does one do in the week leading up to retirement? Plan that trip to Italy? Build up a cache of Post-it Notes from the office supply cabinet?

If you’re Kodiak, Edina’s favorite police dog, you go out with a bang and catch one last bad guy for good measure.

Just two days before his retirement from the Edina Police Department’s K-9 Unit last month, Kodiak, a German shepherd handled by Officer Kevin Rofidal, helped his human team members track down and nab a bank robber in St. Louis Park. “After a bank robber fled from a crashed vehicle, Kodiak located the human scent track (left by anyone running or walking) and located the suspect just after he changed clothes,” Rofidal said.

“The funny part about it was just this morning at breakfast I told some of the other officers we had a day and half left and let’s go catch a bank robber,” Rofidal told the Edina Sun Current.

Kodiak is now more than a month into his retirement, and at 10 years old, he’s certainly earned a little R & R. As a 2-year-old puppy, he was the first dog to be part of Edina’s new K-9 Unit, which Rofidal was instrumental in starting. Before a dog can protect and serve, he has to complete 12 weeks of patrol duties and 3 weeks of narcotics-detecting training, Rofidal said. “I learned alongside him,” the police officer says of working with his four-legged partner.

During dangerous calls, Kodiak wore his own tactical ballistic vest.

During Kodiak’s career, he tracked bad guys fleeing from crimes, sniffed out drugs and searched for evidence. But at the end of the day, Rofidal said he’s just a regular,  “playful” dog, with one possible exception: He never disobeys a command. “These dogs work for the praise and affection of their handlers—they want to please,” Rofidal said.

After all those years of service, however, Kodiak was ready to retire. “He was getting old and nearing the time to move from chasing bad guys to chasing squirrels.” Rofidal said. “We only hope that [Kodiak’s replacement, another German shepherd named] Blade and [Blade’s handler, Officer Jason] Behr have as much fun as we did.”

And though Kodiak used to make plenty of public appearances, Rofidal said he’ll be avoiding the hero’s limelight from this point on: “Now, you’ll have to find him on the golf course or beach.”

By Meredeth Barzen

Sadie the Wonderdoodle stretches her legs on Duluth's Lakewalk.

One of the questions we get asked the most at Sidewalk Dog is “Where can I go when I want to get out of town with my dog?” That’s what prompted our recent Northwoods Getaways post, which offers six lovely local (as in Minnesota’s great Northwoods) spots to spend vacation time with your pooch. One of those resorts, Bluefin Bay, offered us the chance to take a closer look at Lake Superior living, with two nights on the house.** And since there’s nothing Sadie the Wonderdoodle (or her mom) likes better than fresh air, trees, and water, we didn’t exactly hesitate to say yes. Bluefin Bay is extremely dog-friendly, and we found a lot of ways to incorporate fun for Sadie into other aspects of our trip to make this weekend an official Dog-Friendly Northwoods Fun Bonanza. Here’s how it went down:

Checking for ships at Split Rock Lighthouse

After a bit of a struggle to get the Wonderdoodle into the car (as animal communicator Ilga Cimbulis once said, carsickness is Sadie’s burden to bear in life), we set out from South Minneapolis for the nearly five-hour drive to Tofte, Minn., treat bags loaded for both dogs and humans. Travel tip: Those fold-up water bowls are great for long car rides—gotta stay hydrated. Those first three hours from the Twin Cities to Duluth are a little on the dull side, so be sure to break it up with a stop in Hinkley at Tobie’s for a killer caramel roll. (Killer is not a euphemism. If you have heart problems, this might do you in—but what a way to go.) We also picked up some considerably healthier 7-grain oatmeal to cook up for breakfast one morning—Bluefin sent a blueprint of our room ahead of time, so we knew we had a full kitchen to work with.

Everyone in the car needed to stretch their legs by the time Great Gichigami was in sight (that’s Lake Superior in common parlance), so we ditched the car at Canal Park in Duluth and took a stroll along the shore. Lunch was a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel from Northern Waters Smokehaus (oh, what Sadie would have given for some of that smoked salmon, but alas, it was too good to share), after which we continued onward and upward—or, um, Northeast-ward.

Right at home in front of the fireplace at Bluefin Bay

From there, it was an hour drive along the beautiful North Shore Scenic Drive to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Sadie felt a lot better once she was able to get some of that good old rust-red Iron Range mud between her toes, but that good feeling dropped off once we got back on the road and her car-queasiness got the best of her. No matter—Scenic 61 has plenty of turnoffs overlooking the big lake where we could stop, clean up, get some fresh air and admire the view.

Just a hop-skip to Split Rock Lighthouse from there—another breathtaking view—and shortly after, we arrived at Bluefin Bay.

Marie at the front desk welcomed us with hiking and cross-country skiing recommendations, a special treat for Sadie and plenty of info on Bluefin’s extremely considerate pet policies. Special plastic mitts for poop disposal are strategically placed all over the property. Also, while many dog-friendly resorts don’t let you leave your dog alone in the room, Bluefin allows it, provided the dog is kenneled (the resort has kennels on-hand if you forget yours or don’t have one.) And, when you duck out for breakfast at the Coho Café or a short trip to Grand Marais, you can leave your cell phone number with the front desk, so if little Fifi or Fido gets nervous in your absence and starts barking or crying, they can give you a ring.

Sunset on the beach at Bluefin Bay

We were directed to a lovely room right on the lake—floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-burning fireplace, a deck, a full kitchen (as promised), a Jacuzzi tub and a hook in the front hallway for hanging up coats and leashes (hey, it’s the little details that count.) Yep, this’ll do just fine. We made a fire, Sadie took her Norman-Rockwell-esque place in front of it, and we relaxed after a long drive. A note for guests whose dogs have a territorial streak: While picturesque, those giant windows offer a clear view of other guests walking along the shore, right past your room. If your dog doesn’t like seeing others near its home—even a temporary one—Bluefin has some upper-level pet-friendly rooms that keep the lake views but shield Rufus from what he perceives as trespassers.

The next morning, with sunlight streaming in those big windows, we set out for a hike. Marie had suggested the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, which stretches all along the North Shore of Lake Superior, and functions as a safe alternative to Highway 61 for bikes. While the Gitchi-Gami wasn’t quite as cool as its name promised—it was totally paved, which is great for cyclists, but not so exciting for tree-huggers like ourselves—it ran past an entrance to the Superior Hiking Trail, a system that weaves 235 miles from Two Harbors to the Canadian border. No one in our small party—Wonderdoodle included—expected the incredible hike ahead through the Temperance River State Park. We paralleled the still-frozen river as it churned its way to the shore, rushing under broken ice in spots and dropping off waterfalls that got more dramatic as it approached Superior. Toward the end of the hike, we teetered along a great gorge and nervously peered down at glacial potholes that the river had gouged out millions of years ago. As an amateur geology geek, I was in heaven. Sadie—leashed the whole time, as much for our peace of mind as for the sake of following the rules—was a happy camper as well.

Overlooking the Temperance River

While walking the grounds of Bluefin Bay, we met a couple of other pooches taking advantage of the ample room to romp. Yoshi, the Shih Tzu/poodle mix enjoyed a long morning walk with his precocious young owner. Dude, the golden retriever, has been bringing his parents to Bluefin Bay for eight years—that must explain why he walked the smooth pebble beach like he owned the place.

But all good things come to an end, and so Sadie resignedly hopped back into the car and we made our way toward the cities on Sunday morning. A lunch stop at the Amazing Grace Bakery and Café in Duluth was invaluable, as it introduced us to The Best Sandwich in the World—thick, hand-sliced, house-baked bread, bright, lively vegetables, and solid construction—and a nice, long stroll along the city’s Lakewalk prepped us all for the remainder of the drive, which we’re happy to report was free of carsickness this time.

So, if you and your pup are into fresh air, sweeping vistas and, yes, truly awesome geology (or even if that last one isn’t really your thing), we’re happy to recommend a dog-friendly trip up to our fair state’s North Shore. For an in-state take on summer vacation, it can’t be beat.

**Editor’s Note: Though the accommodations were gratis, based on the good time we were shown and the number of happy dogs (and owners) we met in our short time there, we’d have nothing but nice things to say about Bluefin Bay regardless.

"Lily," by WACSO

By Meredeth Barzen

While the Twin Cities certainly isn’t lacking in talented pet artists (see: pooch painters Stray Dog Arts and Lintu Art)—or talented artists in general, for that matter—one has emerged who stands out from the crowd for his stylized, hyper-local treatment of the people, places and pups that populate our fair cities. WACSO (stands for Walkin’ Around Checkin’ Stuff Out)—a.k.a. Robb Burnham—takes inspiration from everything around him, as his name would suggest. Often, it’ll be the fuzzy face of a four-legged pal, but you’ll see local landmarks like restaurants, architecture and adorable old men on benches represented in his work as well. WACSO will draw your dog if you’d like him too—but he won’t take any money for it, just a suggested $100 donation to a pet rescue (check out this recent portrait of his neighbor, M.A. Rosko’s dog Munter.)

"Munter," by WACSO

“I get a lot of requests from strangers all around the country, which was a bit odd at first because I would really rather meet the dog in person, but I’ve got it down to where I ask them to send me as many photos of the dog as they can. That gives me a pretty good idea of what the dog is like,” Burnham says of his commissioned dog drawings. “I don’t want payment for these drawings so I ask for a donation to be made in my name to a shelter/rescue. I’ll send them a hi-resolution file that they can print however they would like. People have made T-shirts, calendars, mugs … I just had a woman use my drawing to get a tattoo of her dog that passed away. It looked awesome, and I think it was great therapy for her.”

Here’s a look into the philosophy and process that is WACSO:

"Sharing the Bed" by WACSO features the artist's own dogs, Frankie and Grady.

Do you have any dogs?

I have two dogs: a female English bulldog named Frankie and a little block-of-cement French bulldog named Grady. Frankie likes to watch TV—in fact, if the TV is off, she’ll yip until the TV is turned on, and she’ll actually growl at the mugshots they show on news programs. She knows who the bad guys are; it’s pretty funny.

What’s your favorite dog-friendly spot in town?

Sitting outside at Java Jack’s Coffee Cafe is awesome.

Do your dogs make it into your drawings?

Yes, I constantly draw my dogs.

How long have you been drawing?

I’ve been drawing all my life, but didn’t really get serious about it until about five years ago.

Your work really celebrates the everyday and the local—what is it about those subjects that compels you to portray them?

I like everyday things. Life isn’t all about taking big vacations and going to exotic locations. We’re surrounded by all kinds of cool everyday stuff; we just have to stop and look for it. I had done a drawing of the Blackbird Cafe a while back because it’s a cool place. Well, sadly, it burned down recently—such a drag, but I started getting messages from people requesting prints of the drawing. It was really cool to see what that drawing suddenly meant to people and the importance of appreciating and celebrating the things we have.

"Dog in a Coffee Shop," by WACSO

What sorts of characteristics make you want to draw a certain dog? Physical traits? Personality? Setting? Owner?

I’ll draw any dog; they are all awesome. Think about it: You can be having the crappiest day of all time and see a dog and smile—what else can do that?

Why do you like drawing dogs in general?

The dog drawings just seem to make people happy. They make me happy drawing them … I laugh most of the time I’m drawing.

How long does it take you to do a drawing?

It’s hard to say how long a drawing takes; I lose track of time, but I’ll usually do dozens of drawings of a dog before I get the one I like best. Sometimes the best version is the first one I draw and sometimes it’s the last.

How do you decide what form it’s going to take (i.e. single-line drawing, detailed, with or without color, etc?)

I will usually do a few different styles; one-line drawings, a more refined style, add color, etc …, and see which I like best when I’m done.

"Shaggy Dog #3," by WACSO

Do you approach strangers and ask if you can draw their dogs? Are they usually game, or do you ever get resistance?

I’m a pretty shy person. I don’t mind talking to the dogs; it’s owners I have trouble with.

Where can people find your work?

Become a fan of my Facebook page! It’s now dedicated to just my dog drawings. I try to put up a new one every couple of days. You can also check out my Web site, which has all of my drawings.

What do you like about the Twin Cities?

The Twin Cities are fantastic—love it here. Tons of dogs, tons of places to walk dogs and the people are cool. I even dig the winters—all those dogs in boots and outfits crack me up.

By Meredeth Barzen

It’s that time of the year when Twin Citians start getting the itch to get the heck out of Dodge. The dog moms at Sidewalk Dog are no exception, and since we can’t all escape to some tropical paradise, we’ve been thinking about taking a weekend up north—warmth provided not by proximity to the equator, but by the company of our four-legged best friends. And so, we provide to you some ideas for dog-friendly lodging when you decide to load the Weimaraner into the station wagon and soak in some new, snowy scenery. And, since we’re having a hard time relinquishing the whole “tropical vacation” idea, a recipe that will transport you in spirit to a warmer clime. And remember to pack the blender.

A Gunflint guest and her four-legged friend enjoy one of the lodge's special dog-lovers' weekends.

Gunflint Lodge, Grand Marais:

The folks at Gunflint Lodge sure aren’t shy about broadcasting their doggie devotion: Five special dog lovers’ weekends throughout the year take care of that. The next one, March 18-21, will include will include dog massages, a dog photographer, a dog Olympics, dog socials, a skijoring demonstration and anything else your canine’s heart could desire. And even if you don’t stay over an officially dog-themed weekend, dogs are always welcomed with water bowls, treats and an extra throw sheet in each cabin before you arrive. Says owner Bruce Kerfoot, Gunflint’s doggie guests are “sometimes easier to host than people.”

Bluefin Bay

Bluefin Bay, Tofte:

Not only does Bluefin Bay have dog-friendly rooms, but some of them even include Jacuzzis and/or fireplaces. You and your pup will be welcomed enthusiastically at this shore-side getaway with treats at the front desk and affection for all four-legged guests. Bluefin has been pet-friendly since it began 25 years ago, and its new sister resort, Surfside on Lake Superior, has kept up the tradition with pet-friendly units of its own. Plus, there are plenty of places for Fido to roam on the North Shore, like Tofte Park (conveniently located right next to Bluefin), where dogs can actually take a dip in the lake—in the summer, that is. Check out Sidewalk Dog next month for more on Bluefin.

A Superior Shores lakehome

Superior Shores, Two Harbors: Stop by for a treat at the front desk on your way back to your rented condo at this lakeside retreat. Though many guests don’t realize dogs are allowed in certain rentals, owner Darrin Young often brings his border collie and golden retriever to work with him. Says Sidewalk Dog reader Jenn Reed Moses, “Superior Shores is awesome. My dog, who is scared of strangers, actually started putting her paws on the front desk to ask for treats—I was mortified, but the staff loved her and were great about it.”

One of Caribou Highlands' condo units.

Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen:

This Lutsen getaway offers a number of dog-friendly rooms, and in the unlikely event that you get bored, can suggest lots of fun activities for you and your pups, like hiking up to the Poplar River, exploring the nearby state parks or skijoring. Caribou’s Martin Pettersson recommends “being proactive and making your reservations early, since the pet-friendly units are very popular and tend to fill up very fast.”

Stanley the Bernese at a Sea Villa townhouse.

Sea Villa Townhomes at Lutsen Resort, Lutsen:

These one- or two-story townhomes near Lake Superior’s shore tempt people with wood-burning stoves and a beautiful pool/whirlpool/sauna complex. Doggies are drawn to the walking trails and abundance of squirrels. This dog-friendliness was a crucial factor when Carol Taylor, who owns one of the Sea Villas, was shopping around. “Basically, if I couldn’t bring my dog [Stanley, a Bernese Mountain Dog], I wouldn’t want to own,” she says, adding, “Judging from the notes in my guest book, I can tell that being able to bring dogs to the villas is greatly appreciated.”

Sweetgrass Cove

Sweetgrass Cove Guesthouse & Bodywork Studio, Grand Portage:

Secluded on a lovely Lake Superior bay, this guesthouse welcomes well-behaved and “well-groomed” dogs—so it wouldn’t hurt to give Günther the Great Dane a bath before showing up. Though owner Rick Anderson’s beloved Irish terrier Lucy passed away recently, “Now more than ever,” he says, “I welcome my guests with dogs to remind me just how beautiful that relationship can be.” Great hiking trails and the very dog-friendly nearby town of Grand Marais make for a fun doggie visit, and ready access to a massage table makes your stay extra-relaxing.

Now where did you pack that blender?

Piña Coladas, SidewalkDog.com Style:

½ c. white rum

½ c. coconut cream

2 c. pineapple juice

4 c. ice

Blend until smooth, pour yourself a glass, and throw your dog a bone. Why should people get all the treats?

Pulscher's dogs Georgia (Vizsla, age 10) and Dixie (German Shorthair Pointer, age 5) making a VIP appearance at Nokomis community center.

By Meredeth Barzen

You know how it feels when you’re on a lovely little walk with your dog, having a grand old time and—EEEW!—you have to execute a very quick sidestep maneuver—or shove your walking companion out of the way—to avoid someone else’s dog’s poop.

“This is why people think dogs are a nuisance,” you say to yourself. But not only does failing to pick up after your dog make dog owners look like bad citizens; it’s bad for the water in our streams and lakes as well. That’s why the Minneapolis Park and Recreation board launched the “Canines for Clean Water” summer movie series—the most enjoyable way to crack down on improperly managed dog poop ever conceived.

A conscientious owner and her dog sign the Clean Water pledge at the Nokomis community center.

Dog-themed movies (“Because of Winn Dixie” and “Scooby Doo” are past examples) are shown at a handful of Minneapolis’ lovely parks, and dogs and their people can show up a little early to participate in some fun dog-friendly activities and take a pledge to keep dog poop off the ground and out of the water. Plus, your signature (and your dog’s paw print) earns you a free water bottle from the Park board.

“Objectives (of the program) are to get dog owners to understand the negative impacts of dog poop on water quality (not to mention aesthetics and the ability to walk barefoot or not get dog poop on your shoes), as well as have dog owners make or renew their commitments to bag up dog poop and put it in the trash,” says MaryLynn Pulscher, who coordinates the environmental education programs for Minneapolis Park and Rec.

She points out that more than 100,000 dogs call Minneapolis home, and that create an estimated 41,000 pounds of solid waste every day. According to Pulscher, the park board has to close down a swimming beach if it tests for more than 1,260 E. coli—a pile of dog poop contains millions of the nasty little critters. That means that if you leave your dog’s doo doo to wash into a lake even once, you could ruin some serious summer fun for others.

There are only two more movies left for this summer, so catch them while you can: on August 25, “Beverly Hill Chihuahua” is showing at Painter Park on Lyndale Ave. and 34th St. (Canine Companions will be holding a dog-wash before the movie, which starts at dusk.) And on August 26, “Bolt” is playing at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park (on the east end of the Stone Arch Bridge), and Wild Honey and the Locusts will be playing live beginning at 7 p.m.

And please, for the reputation of dog owners everywhere: bring an extra baggie on your walk.

By Meredeth Barzen

What better way to weather the beautiful (though lesser-known) Dog Days of Autumn than to pack up the car and take a road trip to one of Minnesota’s myriad dog-friendly vacation spots? In nearly every part of the state, you’ll find lodging that would love to accommodate you and your dog.

The Outing Lodge interior is rustic and cozy.

Start in the South, with Red Wing’s Moondance Inn. The Inn’s 1904 Victorian rental house is a spacious, no-frills, private country getaway for you and your four-legged pals. Upriver, Stillwater boasts The Outing Lodge, where owner Carlota Estevez’s chocolate lab accompanies guest pooches on miles of wooded walking trails surrounding the lodge.

For rugged dogs who love to romp, Lake Superior is the place to let loose. The Inn on Lake Superior really rolls out the welcome mat with a check-in goody bag, which includes a tennis ball, a bandana, an “In case I get lost” dog tag, treats and a list of local pet services. Also in Duluth is Fitger’s Inn, where vacationing dogs find a dog bed, bowls for food and water atop a water-resistant mat and a welcome treat waiting for them.

The picturesque shores of Bluefin Bay.

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery and Cottages in Lutsen is always looking for guest dogs to keep Jazmin the Shih Tzu company, and Bluefin Bay gives them space to roam right on the shores of the Great Lake.

For those heading out west, Mulberry Row in Detroit Lakes is home to Ebby, a chocolate lab/weimaraner mix who sometimes writes about her visiting friends on the B & B’s Web site. And for dogs who really want to see “Up North,” the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais is always pet-friendly, particularly during special “pet-lovers” weekends.

Then again, for Twin Citians who want to save gas money but still get away, downtown Minneapolis offers two dog-friendly

W Hotel in the Foshay Tower has a complete menu of pet services.

hotels: The Chambers (for fancy-pants pets), and the brand-new W hotel, where dogs are supplied with their own concierge.

Now there’s no excuse not to scour the state with your canine playmate. Get packing!

Now that Jessica Lange, her labrador and family have moved on from their 2-acre home in Stillwater, MN, there is a new trend rising up to put the town, once famous for its wall-to-wall antique stores, back on the map: dog-friendly shopping.

Ali and I hit the Stillwater Main Street with Luc and Indie for nearly 90 minutes of shopping bliss in truly unique shops, chatting with owners and patrons and getting great pets all along the way. This was shopping heaven!

Our first stop was at Jake’s on St. Croix, a Genuine Neighborhood “Life is good®” Shoppe, owned by husband and wife Dog Lovers, Peter Grimes and Jen Stewart (pictured right with Luc and Indie). Their two dogs, Tua and Molly, usually accompany them to work. You’ll know you’ve reached the dogs when you stumble upon their very own Life Is Good branded beds at the front counter.

The shop is full of clothing and gear for people and dogs that spread optimism to people every day through uplifting quotes and the signature caricature of the company’s leading man, Jake, displayed on almost every product.

Then we hit up Rose Mille and Collaborations Boutique where we also found out that Art-n-Soul welcomes dog, too! Tuckered out from all the excitement, we headed to our lodging for the night at the Outing Lodge at Pine Point – also dog-friendly. Whew! A full weekend and a weekend full of fun — with our dogs! Happiness.