On Tuesday, the Madison Common Council banned dogs, cats and all other animals from most of Madison's major street events.
The ban covers Taste of Madison, Art Fair on the Square, Maxwell Street Days, the Willy Street Fair and the Wednesday Dane County Farmer's Market on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Supporters pegged the ban as a pet-friendly initiative.
"I've seen extreme heat, animals ill, angry and dehydrated," said Madison resident Rosemary Lee, who has served as a volunteer at Art Fair on the Square. "When the cement is hot the animals' paws actually burn if they are four legged creatures."
Lee added she's also seen dogs break out in fights and jump at vendors' carts, creating unsafe and unsettling situation, particularly for the children who attend the family-friendly events.
The ordinance, introduced by Ald. Mike Verveer, was written to be limited to only major events. Original drafts of the law would have included smaller farmer's markets in the city, including in one on the far east side.
It also will allow animals in parades, a major part of the Willy Street Fair. The Dane County Farmers' Market on Capitol Square, held seasonally each Saturday, already bans dogs, but that land is under state jurisdiction.