Carl Jones, Jr., who grew up in SF’s Fillmore District, was fatally shot on Sixth Street on March 3, and a neighbor who rescued Jones’s dog Teddy G at the scene collaborated with others to reunite him with one of Jones’s siblings.

As Mission Local reports, 43-year-old Jones lived at the Henry Hotel on Sixth Street with his small dog Teddy Graham. In the early morning of March 3, Jones was shot near Sixth and Mission streets in the SoMa neighborhood.

Neighbor Charles Toyner told Mission Local he was walking up Sixth Street when he heard two shots and quickly hid behind a pole. He then saw Teddy G run across the street in distress. Toyner caught Teddy G and told officers he’d take care of him.

Jones died at a hospital shortly after the shooting, and police arrested 33-year-old suspect Siaosi Aleamotuay later that day.

As Bay City News reports, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office charged Aleamotuay with murder, along with an allegation that he personally used a deadly firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to prosecutors, Aleamotuay was seen on surveillance footage removing a gun from his backpack, crossing the street, and shooting Jones, who didn’t appear to be armed, per Bay City News. A possible motive has not been released.

Mission Local reports that Jones grew up in San Francisco’s Fillmore neighborhood with his siblings, and his family sometimes struggled with food and stable housing.

Jones lost both of his parents as a teenager. His father died when he was 16, and his mother died two years later. He spent time in the foster care system and eventually lived at Edgewood, a group home in the Ingleside neighborhood, per Mission Local.

Despite those challenges, Jones excelled in school and earned a 4.0 grade point average, particularly in reading and English. His sister told Mission Local he toured several historically Black colleges and universities and had the potential to attend nearly any school he wanted, but life circumstances ultimately got in the way.

“He never lost his big heart,” she said. “He was always loving. He always had a smile on his face. He would give you advice, and it would always be supportive.”

Mission Local reports that after the shooting, Toyner contacted the Gubbio Project for help locating Jones's family. Outreach worker Terry Morris told Mission Local Jones was remembered for having “bright eyes” and a warm, approachable presence. Morris also recalled how devoted Jones was to Teddy G.

Rio Amor, a drug-overdose educator and substance-abuse specialist at the nonprofit, helped Toyner track down Jones’s relatives. In the meantime, people who met Teddy G offered to adopt him.

Per Mission Local, Amor reached Jones’s sister Amelia in San Jose the following day, and she and other relatives drove to San Francisco to bring the dog home.

Photo of Carl Jones via Amelia Jones/Mission Local

Yes, there is an overpopulation in dog shelters, but may be a snip too far that the SF Board of Supervisors will soon consider legislation mandating that all dogs in SF be spayed or neutered.

We let out quite a yap over when we saw this Tuesday report on KGO saying that an SF Board of Supervisors committee would consider requiring all dogs in SF to be spayed or neutered.  Seems extreme, do any other cities do this, or only overregulating schoolmarm San Francisco?

It turns out there are a few other US cities that require spaying and neutering dogs, and of course they're mostly California cities. Los Angeles County requires pets to be fixed by four months of age. San Jose and Long Beach also have mandatory spay and neuter laws.

And yes, the matter will be discussed at this Thursday’s 10 am Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee meeting. That indicates that this matter will soon go before the full SF Board of Supervisors.

Currently, only pit bulls are required to be spayed or neutered in San Francisco.

If the law passed, those who did not get their dogs fixed could face fines, or even the loss of dogs.

Though there would be exemptions granted for dogs to be bred, though we don’t yet know those exemptions, as the proposed law is not yet fully written.

Related: SF Euthanizing Dogs at Highest Rate in 12 Years, Because of Shelter Overcrowding [SFist]

Image: Terrified little dog lying on the floor below bed. (Getty Images)

San Francisco dog owners are spreading the word about a popular local dog sitter who’s accused of mistreating numerous animals in his care at his Lake Merced condo, leading to the deaths of two dogs over the Christmas holiday.

As KGO’s “7 on Your Side” reports, San Francisco residents began posting to social media last week warning others about a pet sitter who was accused of unsafely boarding and neglecting several dogs in his condo in the Lake Merced neighborhood. The sitter was using the Seattle-based app, Rover, until the app permanently deactivated his account.  

A neighbor first posted about the sitter in a local Facebook group, where they shared two videos of several dogs sitting in the sitter’s Prius at night, which was parked in an outdoor lot during a storm with the windows cracked. In one of the videos, vomit can be seen on the back seat.  (The below clip does not include vomit.) The Facebook post also mentions that the sitter has a female companion who also interacted with the dogs.

“He had at least 7 dogs boarded in their Prius overnight (sitting in their own vomit) in the SF storm + in law unit in my complex,” the Facebook post reads. “Their whole backyard area smells like vomit and dog food and their neighbors have complained about the smells to our property manager.”

“Our HOA fined his landlord for violating HOA rules,” the post continues. “Owners/friends were picking up dogs all day as I believe he was told to shut his operation down ASAP or he could be removed from the unit.”

The Facebook post was then shared to Reddit, where former clients began chiming in with harrowing accounts of the sitter’s neglect, including owners of the dogs filmed inside the Prius. One client wrote about having to fly back home mid-trip to get their dog whose medications were missing and their ten-pound bag of food nearly empty after just a few days in the sitter’s care.

“He texted us on Christmas Eve saying he ‘hurt his leg’ and that we had to come get our dog,” the comment says. “We were 2,000 miles away with family, leaving us to get emergency plane tickets across the country.”

Scott Hallman, who spoke to KGO about the death of his dog Zeb, commented on the Reddit post saying that he filed a police report about the incident, which prompted SF Animal Care & Control and Rover to take action. Hallman also said Zeb tested positive for methamphetamine. “Our baby died in his care,” Hallman wrote. “Severely dehydrated, tested positive for methamphetamine.”

"As our flight was taking off, we got a message on Rover saying our dog had bloody stool and had fainted," Hallman told KGO. “We were in the air flying and my heart just sank, and I cried the rest of the flight.”

KGO spoke to Tran and Amy Dinh, whose dog Aku also died in the sitter’s care. “We got a call on the night of the 23rd, right before Christmas Eve from the vet,” Tran said. “They asked if we were the owner of Aku and said he wasn't responding and his reflexes weren't intact.” Per KGO, Aku later died from complications related to dehydration.

Per KGO, the police investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed. Rover did its own investigation and is working with law enforcement.

Felipe Morales-Torres, a former client who told KGO his dog ​​was picked up on Christmas Day covered in bodily fluids, made an online form collecting information from other clients interested in filing police reports.

The original Facebook user added an update to their post saying the sitter’s business appeared to be successfully shut down by the condo’s HOA, as the Prius was no longer parked in the lot.

Per Hoodline, advocates recommend that pet owners request in-person meet-and-greets, written care plans, and frequent photo updates, to ensure the safety of their animals.

Image: ozgurdonmaz/Getty Images

When a pit bull, nicknamed “Google,” was abandoned outside Google’s Sunnyvale office the morning of Christmas Eve and animal control was closed, Bay Area Reddit users came together to give it food and water and find it shelter with the help of Sunnyvale police.

As KRON4 reports, Reddit user Substantial_Train_23 posted to the Bay Area Reddit community Wednesday that the dog, which appeared to be a pit bull, had been found tied to a light pole in the parking lot of Google’s office in Sunnyvale. Google’s security personnel weren’t able to get in touch with Sunnyvale Animal Control and called the Sunnyvale Police Department instead.

Substantial_Train_23 said they pulled over to give the dog some food, which it ate without hesitation despite being skittish, and it appeared to have scars all over its face, per KRON4. “The dog looked soooo sad and was very skinny!” they added. “They seemed to be scared of me a little bit cuz they backed away when I approached standing up. The poor thing had a lot of scars on its face.”

Soon after, Cassandra Lopez, who’s the general manager of CityDog! Club, a dog boarding facility in Mountain View, and known as Goatfeetandweed on Reddit, chimed in, saying she had arrived on the scene and was helping Sunnyvale police find somewhere safe and warm for “Google” to stay. Per KRON4, Lopez said the scars indicate the dog came from a fighting background.

“Big, huge, massive shout out to you Reddit! Thank you for getting me to the right place at the right time,” said Lopez, per KRON4. “Sending good vibes to you all, happy holidays! From all of us at Citydog! Club in Mountain View.”

“Google” is now at Sunnyvale Animal Control and will be transferred to a local shelter for adoption.

Substantial_Train_23/Reddit

SF’s most Instagram-famous dog, 12-year-old golden retriever Brixton, passed away on Monday, after a long career as an SFO therapy dog, doing Opening Day appearances at Giants games, and looking dapper at SF events.  

Over the last decade and more, San Francisco has come to know and love the nearly 13-year-old golden retriever therapy dog Brixton, as evidenced by his more than 6,000 Instagram followers. Also known as the Doggi Lama, Brixton has served as an SFO Wag Brigade therapy dog, frequently turned up in SFist event photosets, and has even been the guest of honor at Giants Opening Day.

But Brixton died on Monday, spending his final moments at Crissy Field, as seen in the multi-image Instagram carousel below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

Brixton seemed to know what’s coming in his final moments at Crissy Field, where he passed to the great beyond while woofing down Mishka dog cakes. “In the blink of an eye a whole chapter of an amazing life closed without any warning on Monday," his human companion Linda Gordon said on Instagram. “The most beautiful mystical being that ever touched down on earth was spirited away by a bevy of angels."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

“Because he was such an incredible golden light it was so important to honor him in the most loving way as he exited this realm at Crissy Field, his happy place. With the water + bridge glistening as gorgeous as ever.”

It was well-known that Brixton had been battling lymphoma for at least the last six months. And living to nearly 13 years old is a pretty high-end life expectancy for a golden retriever. But Brixton’s legions of fans could not fathom a world without his snuggling presence, and they raised nearly $35,000 to support his medical care in these final months.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

Those legions of fans were able to say their last goodbyes, though, as KPIX reports there was a final meetup of Brixton and his fans last Thursday at Union Square. Many had received Brixton's attentive therapy over the years, as he has been a therapy dog since the age of only eight months old.

"That's a long time of touching people's lives. Just knowing how much good and love he's put out to this universe — it's a lot,” Gordon told KPIX. "He's had the most beatific smile on his face for the last two days while he is just embraced and showered in that beatific love. I just, I keep repeating, but he looks like an angel."

Related: Beloved Albino Alligator Claude, Mascot of the Academy of Sciences, Has Died [SFist]

Image: Goldie Palooza via Facebook

Perhaps San Francisco’s most recognized dog on the social scene, a party-hopping 11-year-old golden retriever named Brixton, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, and is looking at a very costly fight for recovery.  

Chances are you may have run into an 11-year-old golden retriever named Brixton at some sort of street fair or festival in San Francisco. A therapy dog also known as the Doggi Lama, Brixton has 5,000 Instagram followers, he’s frequently turned up in SFist event photosets, and has even been the guest of honor at Giants Opening Day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

But the Chronicle reports that Brixton has been diagnosed with cancer, or rather, early-stage lymphoma. His companion Linda Gordon has established a GoFundMe for Brixton’s medical treatment.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

“I very unfortunately was misdiagnosed years ago + after being untreated for so long I have developed serious IBD which has turned into early stage Lymphoma,” the official Brixton Instagram account said in a July 25 post. “ Since we caught it early + beginning treatment + in great shape + the happiest boy in town - I know I will nip this in the bud so I can bring lots of love for a long time to come.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brixton At Large (@brixtonatlarge)

That sounds optimistic, but Brixton’s veterinary expenses are in the tens of thousands of dollars. “Needless to say, the medical bills have been astronomically astounding and continue to be as I enter chemo and maintenance," the GoFundMe adds. “I desperately need your help in trying to fight this difficult disease."

And in a common Bay Area twist, Brixton and his companion Linda Gordon are probably going to have to move and find new living arrangements because of his illness, as Brixton can no longer navigate the stairway in his household. “Any tips for housing are much appreciated - we will need to start the wheels in motion,” the Instagram post says.

Related: SF’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic Returns, This Time With Doggie Fashion Show Complete With Red Carpet, and We Have Photos [SFist]

Image: Joe Kukura, SFist

• Two former San Ramon Valley High students reached a $7 million settlement after reporting sexual abuse by former theater teacher Ryan Weible between 2010 and 2012. Despite complaints and a police investigation finding condoms in his classroom, the district delayed action, firing him in 2012 but agreeing not to share negative information. [Bay Area News Group]
• Dead & Company’s second night in Golden Gate Park brought out 60,000 fans, many in tie-dye and vintage tour shirts. The band played deep cuts like “St. Stephen” and “Crazy Fingers,” with drummer Jay Lane joining Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann on a triple-drum finale. [Chronicle]

• UCSF oncologist Dr. Vinay Prasad resigned weeks into his new FDA advisory role after far-right activists resurfaced years-old liberal tweets criticizing Trump and conservative pundits. [Bay Area News Group]
• A driver was rescued and hospitalized Friday night after crashing 100 feet down a creek off Monticello Road in Napa, prompting a rope rescue by Cal Fire and county crews. [KPIX]
• A wanted man was arrested after allegedly stealing $1,500 in merchandise—including 21 bottles of probiotics—from South Bay pharmacies, then fleeing on a bike with multiple bags before deputies found the goods and fentanyl pipes. [KRON4]

Top image: An aerial view of an SF MUNI 5 Fulton bus that is wrapped in tie-dye colors on July 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In response to a very visible and persistent rat infestation at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal, a volunteer squad of canine rat hunters were recently deployed to bring the population under control. SFist was so inspired by this endearing story, we scribbled an illustration of the heroes in action.

As KGO reports, the rat problem became visible in mid-July. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, what is happening?’” Ryder Lopez, 19, who started working at Panama Bay Coffee a few weeks ago, told KGO. He said he saw up to 15 rats scurrying into bushes on his first day. “I’ve never seen that many before.”

The city responded with pesticide treatments and a “coordinated pest abatement initiative,” which included sanitation upgrades, street sweeping, and trapping. But locals also credit another effort — the arrival of SCRAT, short for Sacramento Canines’ Rat Annihilation Team.

Founded by Emily Iniguez, SCRAT uses trained terriers instead of poison. “We care a lot about birds of prey, and unfortunately rat poison is really detrimental to wildlife,” she told ABC7.

As Times Herald Online reports, SCRAT first visited the terminal on Friday, July 25. Iniguez and volunteer Austin Isgitt brought three terriers — Nora, Raven, and Creature — and caught 27 rats in 90 minutes. By Sunday night, their total reached 57.

As KTVU reports, the community was also happy to have the dogs' assistance. "We had a lot of people stopping to watch, who were cheering on the dogs, who were pretty excited about it," Iniguez told the station. "I think people definitely recognize it's a massive problem in that specific area."

Some of the rats, she added, “are pretty cozy up there,” suggesting the problem didn’t happen overnight.

Top image: Leanne Maxwell

In this week’s Field Notes: A 4-year-old meets 1,000 dogs, kids get a free tree book, and Sutro Baths summons ghosts. There's opera for Dolores Huerta, Deaf-led dance, an inclusive art fair, rooftop skating, coastal wineries with views, and a Novato Eames museum in the works.

A boy, a teacher, and 1,000 dogs

At Santa Cruz’s Pleasure Point, 4-year-old Quinn Drake is on a mission to meet 1,000 dogs before kindergarten — with help from his devoted day care teacher.

Armed with treats and a notebook, the pair spend weekends logging canine names and spreading joy. — NBC Bay Area

Free tree guide helps kids explore Bay Area forests

The Peninsula Open Space Trust has released a free Tree Explorer’s Handbook to help kids connect with nature. Designed for print or mobile, it includes bark rubbings, tree ID tips, and notes on the wildlife trees support.

POST’s Zionne Fox calls trees an accessible entry point for fostering curiosity. — KGO

Rituals, raves & ghost stories at sutro baths

The crumbling tunnel near San Francisco’s Sutro Baths has inspired ghost stories and satanic panic since the '80s. Once a quarry access route, it’s now a canvas for graffiti, a backdrop for punk shows and raves, and a magnet for occult rumors — none verified, but the energy still lingers.

Hikers still stumble upon candle stubs and burned-out circles of salt. Whether it’s urban myth or a low-profile ritual site, the place practically dares you to look over your shoulder. — SFGate

Literary rebels and psych rock with Pat Thomas

Historian and longtime Bay Area music producer Pat Thomas brings his dual passions home next week. He'll be launching his new anthology Evergreen Review: Dispatches from the Literary Underground (1957–1973) at Clio’s in Oakland on August 4, then performing with his 1990s-era improv psych band Mushroom at the Make Out Room on August 5.

The book highlights the influence of Grove Press’s countercultural literary magazine and its boundary-pushing contributors, including William Burroughs and Amiri Baraka. — Mission Local

Dolores Huerta gets her own opera, and she’s attending Saturday night

West Edge Opera in Berkeley kicks off its season with Dolores, a world premiere inspired by labor icon Dolores Huerta and the 1965 Delano Grape Strike.

The new work — by composer Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch — spotlights Huerta’s early organizing years and her partnership with figures like Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong. Huerta herself is expected to attend tonight’s opening night, August 2, at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center. Runs through August 16. — Oaklandside

Bay Area’s Deaf Dance Festival brings bold new work and global talent

Now in its 13th year, the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival brings together Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists from around the world — Botswana to Bogota, Jamaica to the Bay. Led by Oakland-based dancer and choreographer Antoine Hunter (Purple Fire Crow), the festival runs August 6–10 with performances and workshops in SF and Berkeley.

It’s a rare space where Deaf artists can fully express themselves, both onstage and behind the scenes, supported by Deaf-led production and layered accessibility — from sign language in multiple languages to audio descriptions and vibrating seats. — 48 Hills

New art fair to spotlight neurodivergent artists

Creativity Explored is launching a new national art fair in downtown SF next January. Funded by a $100K grant from the Svane Family Foundation, the Creativity Explored x Open Invitational will bring together neurodivergent artists from across the country during San Francisco Art Week 2026.

Admission will be free, and booth fees waived. The project expands the cultural conversation around who gets exhibited and collected, and strengthens SF’s role as a leader in inclusive art. — SF Chronicle

Mid-century Novato landmark to become Eames Design Museum

A quirky 1960s-era building once home to publisher McGraw Hill — and later Birkenstock — is being transformed into a new art and design museum by the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity. The 88-acre Novato property will celebrate Charles and Ray Eames, the mid-century design legends behind the iconic molded chair and more.

With architecture from the firm behind SF’s de Young Museum, plans include showcasing emerging artists as well. The current Eames space in Richmond has a 1,000-person waitlist — and the Institute hopes this new site will become a world-class destination. There’s no timeline yet, but the purchase price was $36 million. — SFist

Rooftop roller rink brings summer skating to Market Street

Skate under the stars at SVN West’s rooftop rink, open Thursdays–Sundays through mid-September. With views of the San Francisco skyline, themed 21+ nights (like disco, hip-hop, and Bay Area beats), and kid-friendly events (like Character Day), there's something for everyone.

Tickets include skate rentals, and season passes offer unlimited access and food discounts. — Bucketlisters

Wine with a view

If you’ve ever wanted to sip pinot while watching waves crash below you, this roundup delivers. From redwood-flanked patios in Jenner (Fort Ross Vineyard) to Highway 1 breezes in San Simeon (Hearst Ranch Winery), these five California wineries pair coastal views with chardonnay, rosé, and even pinotage.

You can just drop in — or, if you’re the plan-ahead type, book food pairings or guided hikes between sips. — 7x7

Top Image via West Edge Opera House

Previously: Field Notes: Possums, Pixies, Plays, and Power Tools

What seems to be the world’s largest annual three-legged dog meetup returned Sunday and turned the Marina Green into the Em-bark-adero, and we’ve got pup-arazzi pics and video of these resilient dogs.

We’ve been hounding our favorite tri-pawed dogs at San Francisco’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic for a number of years now, and good things came in threes when this joyful and quirky celebration of amputee dogs returned to Little Marina Green on Sunday. SFist has a fetching treasury of pictures and videos below from this 16th annual meetup of dogs missing one leg, which this year introduced the new feature of a red carpet and a Three-legged Dog Fashion Show.    

ARR you ready for this three-legged dog Olyve, in full pirate regalia? Her missing leg is replaced by a Dr. Hook-style prosthetic hook, and like all true pirates, Olyve is missing an eyeball.  “Olyve was guarding a toy that did not belong to her, and a dog snapped at her, and that is how she lost her eye,” her companion Jess tells SFist. “She is three-legged and one-eyed, so she’s dressed as a pirate today because we that it was a fitting costume.”

And considering Sunday’s event took place right along SF’s famed Scenic 49 Mile Drive, this three-legged pup and companion seagull were among the sights to take in.

Another three-legged dog came as a sheriff, though the kind of sheriff who sports a bright yellow mohawk.

And certainly this postal carrier three-legged dog did not mail it in when it came to their costume.

This year’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic drew 70 tri-pawed dogs, which is is not as many as last year’s record-breaking 94 three-legged dogs in one place, but still quite a large litter, and making this event probably the world’s largest annual three-legged dog meetup. “We were the first to gather some many three-legged dogs,” Three-Legged Dog Picnic founder and organizer Franny Panny told us. “We have three-legged dogs as well as other handicapable dogs. We have dogs with cones, casts, one eye, wheelchairs, blind, deaf, toothless, they’re all welcome to the picnic.”

You can enjoy the one-of-a-kind magic of all 70 three-legged dogs in the above video of the annual Three-Legged Dog Parade. But the video is nearly six minutes long, because corralling 70 highly distractible three-legged dogs is not the easiest task.

Some of these miraculous survivor dogs have shockingly strong running form, like this French bulldog Corbie, who is able to catch some serious air while chasing bubbles.

And you are probably going to need a Kleenex when hearing the “three-legged dog origin story" of the Basset Hound Zelda.

The vast majority of these dogs lost a leg because they were hit by a car. But not the above pooch Chili. Chili lost a leg because he got shot as a feral puppy in Lake County, and actually still has a bullet in him that veterinarians were unable to remove.

“When he was a puppy, he was shot,” says Chili’s “Tri-curious” companion Gabby Gardener. “Unfortunately the bone just didn’t heal the right way. We tried everything, physical therapy and all the things to try to fix the leg and nothing was working. We finally were referred to UC Davis, and it was determined that amputation was the best thing for him. So we did that about two years ago and he’s thrived ever since. He’s so much happier.”

This dog Lassen lives in a household with four — count ‘em — four different three-legged dogs. “We’ve got two from Texas that were shipped to us,” dog mom Celine Dahlen explains. “We got him at 56 pounds, he had a shattered femur they amputated. He is now a good healthy 96 pounds.”

Here are members of the Dahlen family that’s raising four tri-pawed dogs. “We even have a cat at home that has three legs,” Dahlen tells SFist. "We know these are not going to be the first choice at a shelter. We know their energy level, we know their behaviors, we know they get worn down quicker. People contact us now when they have tri-pods and we try to place them."

Should you be inclined to want to adopt a three-legged dog, Oakland’s Rocket Dog Rescue has plenty to pick from (you can also temporarily foster a dog). “We rescue everybody. It doesn’t matter if they have three legs or one eye,” Rocket Dog Rescue founder Pali Boucher tells us. The cost is around $400, which comes with the microchip, spaying and neutering, deworming and vaccination.

Here on the other side of the Bay, Muttville also has some handi-capable dogs that could sure use new homes.

“Three to get ready” was of course a recurring theme, with the three famed Doggie Diner heads popping up at the Three-Legged Dog Picnic. The event also featured DJ Justin Credible dog-themed tracks like the obvious “Atomic Dog,” or clever additions like Queen’s “You're My Best Friend,” and Belinda Blair’s side project Pipsqueak playing Tom Waits’s “Rain Dogs”

This four-legged dog has been festooned with sunflowers, courtesy Sunflower Pet Salon, who were offering free nail trims to any dog that needed one.

And a giant gang of volunteers also helped pull the event off, as well as a few other sponsors. “Pet Food Express sponsored our stage,” Franny Panny tells us, also noting that Pacifica’s Rex Center brought out a warm pool for physical therapy, ensuring that every three-legged dog had its day on Sunday.

Related: Video: SF’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic Smashes World Record for Largest-Ever Gathering of Three-Legged Dogs [SFist]

Images: Joe Kukura, SFist

Image: Mexican Alebrijes & Nahuales sculptures now on display at Yerba Buena Gardens; Leanne Maxwell/SFist

Barni, a 5-year-old German shorthaired pointer whom you may have encountered while waiting in a TSA line at San Francisco International Airport, just won a prize for being cute from the TSA.

The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 2024 Cutest Canine Contest was held last week via social media, on multiple platforms, taking votes on four finalists chosen from 87 TSA K-9s. Among them was Barni, an explosives detection pooch who works the terminals at SFO — in the last year you may have been instructed to walk past him, in fact, two at a time with your luggage, before getting to the ID-check stations.

"Our explosives detection canines and their handlers are an essential component of TSA’s multi-layered approach to security,” says TSA Administrator David Pekoske in a statement. "I look forward to this contest every year, and the friendly competition among airports and then with the public is a great way to recognize their work to secure our transportation systems and keep the traveling public safe."

Barni's handler, Michelle Cogel, has been a canine handler at SFO for three years, and has worked for the TSA for six years. He actually goes home at night with Michelle, who says that when he's not at work "he’s free to be a goofball," and, per the TSA, "He loves to play fetch but mainly is obsessed with keeping fit by chasing squirrels."

Barni is one of over 1,000 canine teams trained at the TSA's Canine Training Center in San Antonio, Texas. They work to detect the scent of explosives in large groups of people, even if those scents are mobile — like in rolling luggage.

"The canines and their handlers train regularly, and the handlers learn to read subtle changes in their canine’s behavior when the scent of an explosive has been detected," the TSA explains.

Barni will now be featured on the front cover of the TSA’s downloadable 2025 Canine Calendar the agency will release in December.  

The TSA also congratulates the other three finalists in the Cutest Canine Contest, who were selected by TSA employees. They are: Carlo, a 3-year-old male Vizsla from Kansas City International Airport (MCI); Badger, a 5-year-old male Belgian Malinois from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), who was the runner-up; and Birdie, a 3-year-old Yellow Lab/Vizsla from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).

If you need another bone to pick with PG&E, they cut off the power for the beloved senior dog rescue operation Muttville, and the disruption in electricity is apparently resulting in elder dogs being euthanized instead of getting a chance at a new home.  

It was big news for the 17-year-old senior dog rescue shelter Muttville at the beginning of August, when they moved from their old Alabama Street location within the SF SPCA building to a new forever-home all their own a few blocks away at Florida and 19th streets.  The new facility was designed by famed interior designer Ken Fulk, and featured amenities like a “Zen therapy room” and a doggie spa.

But the new home would not be for long, because Muttvile’s PG&E power went out. “That was a Monday. And then the very next day Tuesday, we were here and starting off our day, and the power went out,” Muttville founder and CEO Sherri Franklin told NBC Bay Area in the segment below. The shelter has now been closed for a couple of weeks.

“We’re set up. Boom! All we need are the people and the dogs to come back here,” Franklin added. “We worked meticulously down to the nth degree on how to move, how to move from our old space at the SPCA and how to move in here.”

This is not a non-payment issue, Muttville’s bills are fully paid. According to NBC Bay Area, there was a “miscommunication between the building developers and the utility company [PG&E] regarding the power needed to run the shelter effectively.”

According to a PG&E statement to NBC Bay Area, “The higher-than-expected demand overloaded PG&E’s circuit twice, damaging PG&E’s equipment and causing potential safety and reliability issues for surrounding customers.” The statement added that “PG&E continues to work with Muttville and their contractor on a long-term plan to safely deliver electricity in the future.”

The power is back on at Muttville, though not at levels at which they can house their full capacity for senior dogs. And according to the SF Standard, some dogs are apparently being euthanized because of the lack of capacity.

Muttville is not a “kill shelter,” a term used for facilities that euthanize dogs for whom they cannot find homes. But Muttville takes dogs from such shelters, and can currently take fewer of them, which means more older dogs being euthanized until PG&E can sort all this out.

“Shelters will euthanize for space, and the senior dogs are the first to go,” Carol Lacey of the Marin County shelter Kern Project told the Standard. “If we are not able to move the dogs to Muttville, then we cannot save more dogs from the kill shelters or take in the ones we save directly from the community.”

Muttville is operating again, but at much smaller capacity, and taking in less than half of its normal weekly intake of senior dogs. But the facility is not currently open to the public, and may not be until next week, if even that.

Related: Senior Dog Rescue Muttville Facing ‘Crisis’ of Abandoned Dogs, Aims to Get 100 of Them Adopted Over Holidays [SFist]

Image:  Muttville Senior Dog Rescue via Facebook

• As seen above, the World Dog Surfing Championships returned to Pacifica Saturday, and drew a crowd of between 6,000 and 7,000 spectators. Twenty different dogs from as far away as Japan competed Saturday, and a chocolate Labrador from Brazil named Cacau won the gold medal for "top surf dog." [KGO]  
• A stunning crime wave of strong-arm robberies has hit Oakland’s Westlake Christian Terrace senior housing apartment complex, and most of the victims have been elderly Asian Americans. The Chronicle’s analysis found 23 robberies there in June and July, and in the majority of these cases, someone jumps out of an SUV and strong-arms the seniors. Oakland police say they’ve arrested seven juveniles in connection with these attacks. [Chronicle]
• The 61-year-old retail business Glen Park Hardware is closing permanently, and the 685 Chenery Street (at Diamond Street) store is running a 50% off everything sale Sunday. [SFGate]
• The Castro nightclub Beaux celebrated its ten-year anniversary Saturday, with Mayor London Breed, state Senator Scott Weiner, and Sister Roma on hand, plus they’re also introducing a renovated bar, bathrooms, and a new menu. [KPIX]
• There's a wild political factoid buried in this Mission Local article: Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and SF Supervisor Aaron Peskin actually attended kindergarten together! Peskin apparently posted photos proving this a few years back. [Mission Local]

Image: Dorothy O'Donnell via Hoodline

Behold Sunday’s “Tri-Pawed Picnic,” which drew the famed Doggie Diner heads and broke the world record for the most three-legged dogs ever counted in one place. We’ve got pup-arazzi pictures and video of these dogs who’ve bounced back from some pretty ruff encounters.

We love San Francisco’s annual Tri-Pawed Picnic and the three-legged dogs that take over a park one summer Sunday per year, because these dogs “tri” harder.  And we got word in May that this year’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic was going for the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of three-legged dogs ever in one place. The previous record was 75 three-legged dogs.

And dog-gone it, Sunday’s picnic did indeed break that record, with 94 three-legged dogs! That said, organizers decided to not register the event with the Guinness Book of World Records. “About a month before the event, we decided it was too complicated to communicate with them.” Tri-Pawed Picnic founder Franny “Panny” Corsick tells SFist. “It's unofficial. We hold the new ‘fun-official’ World Record.”

But good things came in threes Sunday at the picnic’s new Little Marina Green location, as the three famed Doggie Diner heads made an appearance too. “John Law brings them out to special events here in the city. He donates the time and effort,” she adds. “Once the Doggie heads showed up, we became sort of an iconic event. When those dogs show up, you know you’ve made it in San Francisco.”

So dogs got to check out the Doggie Diner heads. Can you even see the tiny specklet of a dog in the above photo?

Here is your highlight, the Parade of the Three-Legged Dogs, which now marched through the Little Marina Green, and in the shadow of the Palace of Fine Arts. “We went to a larger park because the group was getting too big for the small park that we were at,” Corsick explains. “We spoke to Rec and Parks and they had different suggestions for parks. And they suggested this one, for the capacity, and the accessibility of public parking as well.”

But another feature of this event was quite fetching, the Three-Legged Dog Tricks exhibition. Check out Sport above, who is able to perform a standing spin while standing on her back legs.

This poodle Wallace has impressed in years past with his ability to jump through hoops, but also dazzled the crowd by balancing balls on his nose.

And Nala here is able to give a jumping, human-height level high five to her companion.

While this three-legged dog Macaroni’s trick was simply to howl.

And this three-legged dog Mena could be yours, because she’s available for adoption! “She is up for adoption through Rocket Dogs in Oakland,” her foster Vidu tells us. “I’ve taken her out on hikes. She loves the water, she loves swimming. She’s fascinated with birds, she will watch pelicans for hours.”

And meet Wilbur. “He was about 12 weeks old when it was amputated,” his companion Maggies says. “He’s a year-and-a-half old now.”

It was a big day for Eileen, seen above. “Today is her adoption day, we got her five years ago today,” companion Tuan tells us. “We got her from the pound in Milpitas, the Silicon Valley Humane Society.”

“We got her when she was about four months [old],” Tuan adds. “She had a little bit of problems going up and down the stairs, and initially had some problems walking around the block. I guess it was difficult for her. But now she’s the fastest dog on the block.”

There was some occasional dog conflict, or rather, the occasional little Napoleon dog trying to start some shit while the other sat aloofly.

But look at the fine running form of this little guy Max. “He was adopted in Mexico, he’s from Guadalajara. He was hit by a car,” his friend David says. “I don’t think it makes a difference for him, he runs around just fine.”

Slinky here is not a three-legged dog, but a two-legged dog. “Slinky is a dogaroo,” says Pebble Goldman, making a kangaroo joke. “He was one of six. Three of them had four legs, three of them had two legs. I have one of his brothers, and the other is living an Instagram-famous life in Tucson.”

Since Slinky is not three-legged, he did not factor in to the record count of 94 three-legged dogs. But all dogs are welcome at this event. “This is a really nice celebration of otherwise-abled animals,” Goldman adds. “Dogs in carts, dogs with four legs and braces like Murphy, it’s great.”

She speaks of Murphy, seen enjoying a lay in the sun above. Murphy is also Instagram-famous (check out his amazing Halloween costume from last year), and was adopted from the formerly SF-based Family Dog Rescue which is now headquartered in Sonoma.

“He’s got immune-mediated polyarthritis,” companion Jenny Anadon explains. “So he’s got collapsed joints. These are custom orthotics that we got through a holistic vet in Pacifica. They are from a company called OrthoPets.”

Above we have the official counting of the dogs, a delightful video, though it lasts ten minutes long. Some of the dogs would just stop, or get confused, or decide to plop down for a breather at the wrong time. But you can confirm with your own two eyes that there are 94 of them, and we’re including a few more photos below of Sunday’s 2024 Three-Legged Dog Picnic.

Related: SF’s Three-Legged Dog Picnic Aims to Set World Record for Largest Gathering of Three-Legged Pups This Summer [SFist]

Images: Joe Kukura, SFist