Lake Reclaims Part Of North Side Dog Beach

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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- One of the most popular dog beaches in Chicago is losing ground, as the lake creeps up at Montrose.

There is less and less beach for Levi, a German shepherd, to run and play these days.

But his owner, Salem Martinez, says it's not so bad because the sand is so high, the fence is no longer a barrier. 

"I like it better, but only because I know my dog's recall is really good. He'll come back. But I have seen other dog owners have to struggle to get their dogs. Because they hop the fence, and there is a road right there. So, it's kind of dangerous."

Eva Gelfand owns a dog day care. She said the shrinking terrain is causing problems.

"The people beach, obviously, floods. So the people show up at the dog beach with their picnic baskets and their rugs, and they don't quite seem to understand that that causes fights when they have food. Even though there are signs that say 'no food.'"

There is talk of fixing the fence and moving it to give the dogs more space -- and the people, less.