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O’FALLON PARK — In what has become an all too familiar scene on Sunday mornings, a man wearing a heavy padded suit waits by a tree in O’Fallon Park as another man, standing about 40 yards away, releases an excited dog from his leash.

The dog darts towards the man in the padded suit and leaps to bite his arm. The man hits the dog with an orange detergent bottle, making the dog angrier and causing him to pull at his arm more violently.

After a few seconds, the man with the leash begins to walk over to the dog, instructing him to let go.

This kind of attack dog training has been going on in O’Fallon Park for years, but thanks to a new law passed by the Board of Aldermen, it is now illegal and carries a hefty $500 fine.

Alderman Antonio French (D-21st Ward) introduced the bill earlier this year. It was just signed into law by the mayor in October. The bill makes any kind of attack dog training in which dogs are taught to attack a human or another animal strictly prohibited. It further mandates that any kind of dog training require a city permit so that such activity can be regulated.

“This issue is very simple,” said French. “The parks are for everyone. No one person or group’s activities should make others feel uncomfortable or unsafe”

French said he has overseen more than a million dollars in investment in O’Fallon Park which has resulted in families returning to the large northside park.

“But on Sunday mornings, when those trainers are there with sometimes as many as a dozen or more dogs, the normal walkers and joggers steer clear. That’s not right. And it no longer will be tolerated.”

The new law went into effect October 20th.