JOEL ON DOGS
Joel is a dog person and he knows that dogs are loved as members of many families. Dogs are good for kids, seniors and our souls. They bring neighbors together and help build community.
We need more shared, open space for families and responsible dog owners to safely play and relax together. This includes areas where dogs can run off-leash and areas for people who do not want to interact with dogs.
We can also be good stewards of the environment without overly restricting where people and pets can go in our parks.
Do you still believe in San Francisco? I do. I’m running for supervisor to create our best San Francisco.
My second-place showing against incumbent Norman Yee and three other challengers for District 7 supervisor feels like a success. Thousands of voters embraced my campaign’s forward-looking message, which will ultimately influence the direction of our city.
By Joel P. Engardio -- People and pets in San Francisco rely on parks for quality of life in an urban setting. City Hall must keep our parks fully accessible and funded without resorting to budget set-asides.
By Joel P. Engardio -- “There is no humane way to eat a dog because the dog is our best friend – and that is not just a western slogan,” animal rights activist Andrea Gung said to counter the claim she is imposing her value system on people who live in China. “The dog has always been associated with the word ‘loyal’ in Chinese culture.”
By Joel P. Engardio -- For seven years, 64-year-old Janet Kessler has been voluntarily observing and photographing urban coyote behavior throughout San Francisco’s parks. She regularly logs six hours a day, taking up to 600 pictures. “People think coyotes are vermin, dangerous or the big bad wolf,” Kessler said. “But they’re wonderful animals we can live with if we treat them with respect and take the right precautions.”
By Joel P. Engardio -- If you fear romping dogs and poop on your shoe, then beware of a U.S. National Park Service plan that will overrun your neighborhood parks with thousands more dogs.
By Joel P. Engardio -- By evolutionary standards, San Francisco should be headed for extinction. We have fewer children than any major American city. More dogs than kids live here. It's not that we aren't making babies. The first generation of Google and Facebook engineers are 30-somethings and starting families. Lots of gay couples are having children. The problem is many parents flee San Francisco when their kids reach ages four or five.
By Joel P. Engardio -- We love dogs in San Francisco. About 150,000 live here, which means we have more canines residing in The City than kids. But in finding park space for all those dogs to play, there's an escalating debate: Are they our best friends or dogs gone wild?