Is San Francisco the Best City in America for Dogs?

The real estate blog Estately doesn't think so -- it named S.F. fifth. Fifth!? What's UP, Estately?

Estately recently released it's "17 Best Cities for Dogs" list, with Portland, OR, coming out on top. If you don't live in Portland, YOU LOSE! THANKS FOR PLAYING. 

Granted, these sorts of lists, patched together by disparate statistics and hearsay, are typically best at not naming the best cities for dogs but rather riling up readers and commenters. They're used to draw page-views. They're used to generate controversy. They're used to get otherwise well-intentioned dog owners to say weird things like, "You want to step outside, Estately?"

We thought we'd play along, obviously. Dogster is based in San Francisco, so we're batting for the home team, and we have to wonder what Estately is smoking. San Franciso should be first -- and second. Whatever particular city you live in should be ranked third. (And fourth? Sure!) Then Estately can have its Portland. 

Okay, we'll stop. We've had our fun. We really don't mind the list all too much. Estately put S.F. at No. 5 because of our 27 dog parks, our dog-friendly restaurants and gyms, a dog newspaper, and this dog who hangs out in a cab. What it didn't mention is the shocking lack of decent backyards, thank God. 

Portland, however, has 33 dog parks. So, you know, whoopee for Portland! 

To be honest, the list is a pretty good way to get a bead on some great dog things in the different cities. Did you know Austin has a food truck for dogs? That Tucson hosts an annual Pitbulooza in honor of National Pit Bull Awareness Day? That dogs are welcome at the local Ghost Town Wild West Museum in Colorado Springs? (Um, yay?)

We also learned that some Vegas casinos allows dogs, that Portland is considering a $150 fine for people who don’t scoop their dogs' poop, that San Diego is the dog surfing capital, and that Kramer the Famous Rock Dog is famous for fishing for rocks in Austin's rivers and lakes.

The list also made sure to mention that Seattle-based REI sells more than 150 dog-related outdoor adventure products online, so, you know, move to Seattle?

Here's the full list, and we encourage you to click on the story to read about each city. You're also welcome to be outraged in the comments. Your call. 

PortlandSan DiegoSeattleAustinSan Francisco (really? Are you serious? Fifth? Not first? What's above first? Shouldn't we be that?)AlbuquerqueTusconBostonPhoenixMinneapolisColorado SpringsChicagoLas VegasMiamiWashingtonDenver Cleveland 

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Could Caring for Dogs Help Panhandlers Turn Things Around in San Francisco?

In a city named after the patron saint of animals and once known as the mecca for hope-eyed flower children, San Francisco is taking a radically humane approach to its panhandling and pet overpopulation problems.

Matt Traywick, a formerly homeless man living in housing in the Tenderloin, carries Charlie home after a walk in the city. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

The program has been dubbed WOOF -- Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos -- and it hopes to help eradicate panhandling by pairing formerly homeless people with troubled dogs from shelters who desperately need handling, training, and good old-fashioned affection to help them find new homes. The human participants receive a weekly $50 to $75 stipend to look after the dogs -- and to cease begging for money in the streets.

Sound a little controversial? Hold your howling and hear me out.

Beginning in August, dogs who have demonstrated themselves to be ideal candidates will be placed with formerly homeless people (folks who have housing but can't seem to break their panhandling habit) who also demonstrate the potential to benefit from the program, and who have been screened and trained in caring for dogs. They will foster the dogs until permanent homes can be found for them.

The bichon mix named Charlie gives Traywick a sense of purpose and responsibility. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

Since coming to live with Traywick, Charlie has become a much happier, healthier dog. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

WOOF leads us to think: We know dogs are special, and we know dogs can and do change people's lives.

When yours truly first moved to San Francisco, experienced a bad breakup, struggled to find work, and realized how how hard it can be to make new friends, it proved to be quite a challenge. Several times I wanted to pack up all my things and return to Los Angeles. I eventually found part-time work as a dog-walker, and you know what? It was those wagging tails, smiling faces, and dependency on me that helped give me the stable footing to stand on my own here in a truly remarkable city. More than that, the dogs taught me how to accept myself -- even at my worst -- and to keep trying. I'm so grateful for my four-legged clients, and I know they've benefitted from my loving-but-stern hand on their leashes. I've seen wild, jumping puppies become elegant, mature dogs, and I believe the dogs have seen me go from someone alone in a new city to a confident, happy woman.

So, who knows? San Francisco has always been known as a radical location at the vanguard of progress. This cuteness correspondent is taking an optimistic cue from the canines, hoping that WOOF gets people and dogs to help themselves by helping each other.

Via SFGate

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Dog Poisonings in My San Francisco Hood and in Denver

Dakota, on what appears to be a little family road trip. (Photo courtesy of Debi Cournale, via San Francisco Chronicle)

Just a few blocks from where I live in San Francisco, a dog and a cat from the same house have died from possible poisoning with methadone. The pets’ family has absolutely no methadone in the house. They suspect their pets were poisoned in their backyard just before they started showing signs of severe distress.

When the cat, Cowboy, started “moaning,” vomiting, and having a hard time walking Sunday afternoon, Debi Cournale and her 14-year-old daughter rushed him to an emergency veterinarian. When they got back to the house, their 11-month-old mixed-breed puppy, Dakota, showed similar signs and was running around frantically.

They rushed the pup to the vet. He was convulsing. Both Dakota and Cowboy died that night.

“It was insane, absolutely insane,” Cournale told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Here’s your little puppy, lying on a bed, dead, and on the other side is your cat, lying in an incubator, fighting for his life. It was like a horror movie.”

Police are investigating. If this was, indeed, poisoning (necropsies are taking place, but the vet is sure poison is the culprit) how did someone get the poison into the backyard? You have to be a major-league pitcher to throw something over some of the houses around here so that they’d land in the yard. Houses usually completely block backyards in San Francisco. The only easy access is from the neighbors, whose backyards are separated only by fences.

So tragic, more so around the holidays. And a bit close for comfort …

In a too-related development, KUSA-TV reports that meatballs injected with poison have been thrown into random yards in Denver. Dogs have become sick, but there are no reported deaths.

I know many of you would never let your dog into your yards without full supervision, but that’s not realistic for many families. And even if you’re watching, it takes only a split second for a dog who is snortling around a yard to come upon a poisoned treat and snarf it up.

Horrible. I don’t know how you can be vigilant about this, except maybe to thoroughly inspect your yard before letting your dog out. But even that doesn’t cover all bases. Anyone have suggestions?

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Photo Caption Contest: On the Street of San Francisco

Well, Dogsters, you have to love the canine approach to life. Dogs are like portable parties — they’ll bring fun to any place or occasion. Even if it happens to be San Francisco City Hall where this lovely lady performed for me a few weeks ago. To enter the contest just submit your caption ideas by posting a comment to the post below. The winner will be announced next Thursday, January 27th and will receive world fame plus 50 Zealies.

Have fun…

Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved

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