Dayton getting another new dog

Published 4:37 pm Thursday, September 22, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton has become Minnesota’s most well-known dog owner, and now he’s adding to his pack.

Dayton says Thursday he’s getting a black, male German Shepherd puppy born on Aug. 16. The Democratic governor already has two German shepherds: Wanamingo (wah-nah-MING’-oh), who he got at the beginning of this year, and Mesabi, whom he’s had since 2002.

Dayton says Mesabi is getting old and slow and he wants to make sure ‘Mingo’ has a playmate when Mesabi isn’t around any longer. He says two dogs are better than one because they can keep each other company.

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Dayton says there’ll be a contest on Mingo’s Facebook page starting Monday to guess the name of the new dog. He wouldn’t reveal if the name will again be inspired by Minnesota geography.