Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Roseau council designates Great Pyrenees 'Frosty' potentially dangerous, waives impound fee
Summary
After an evidentiary hearing, the Roseau City Council unanimously designated a Great Pyrenees mix named Frosty as a potentially dangerous dog, extended the compliance deadline to April 6, 2026, and waived current impound fees provided the owner meets vaccination, microchip, licensing and enclosure requirements.
The Roseau City Council unanimously designated a Great Pyrenees mix named Frosty as a potentially dangerous dog following a March 2 evidentiary public hearing. The council also extended the deadline for the dog's owner to meet return conditions to the April 6 council meeting and waived the current impoundment fee.
Police Chief Marc Hodge and Police Sergeant Cody Vonasek summarized the February 14 incident in which Frosty, unrestrained, charged and bit a leashed dog and grabbed that dog's owner’s arm. Sergeant Vonasek told the council the attack was "unprovoked" and that Frosty’s vaccination records submitted to officers were expired. The injured dog’s owner, Earl Dixon, said his dog received a minor paw injury but would suffer no lasting damage.
Owner Brandon Vaughn said Frosty "slipped out" and that the dog serves as an emotional support animal; he did not produce a current rabies vaccination certificate. Sergeant Vonasek told the council he had attempted to secure security video but that the camera was not working the day of the incident.
City Attorney Michelle Moren framed the hearing as an evidentiary proceeding under Roseau City Ordinance 92.38 and Minnesota Statutes Chapter 347, and introduced the police report and related exhibits into the record. Council deliberated on statutory standards and the practical steps required for the dog to be returned to Vaughn custody.
Councilmember Pat Novacek moved to designate Frosty as a potentially dangerous dog; Councilmember Oliver Ullman seconded the motion, which passed on a unanimous vote. The council specified conditions for return: proof of current rabies vaccination, microchip identification, licensing with the Police Department, payment or waiver of impound costs (waived in this case), and construction of a compliant enclosure meeting minimum specifications. Councilmembers also allowed additional time for compliance given frozen ground and potential need to obtain landlord or apartment‑complex permission to build an enclosure.
The council’s findings and order will be served on the owner and appended to the city clerk’s meeting file. The matter returns to the council on April 6, 2026, if compliance is not completed.
