Dog City

In the City dogs eat better than a lot of people (Wilson/WSJ)

The Bay Area is a dog-friendly place, but San Francisco appears to have crossed the line.

Virginia may be for lovers, but San Francisco is for dog lovers. It has sprawling green spaces, treats behind every shop counter and beaches where canines can run and splash in the surf. But dog lovers, dog haters and the dog-neutral are finding themselves in an uncomfortable alliance against a contingent they say is exploiting the city’s tolerance.

Paws are up on the counters of coffee shops and no one flinches. Croissants are being stolen out of the hands of hungry diners by hungrier black labs. The aisles of Target and Trader Joe’s are full of “service animals” that can’t seem to recall much, if any, of their training.

Dog owners ignore posted leash laws, bring their dogs into restaurants and stores, and chuckle when their animals steal food from diners. For a City that prides itself on its civic-mindedness many of its residents don't display the community values that supposedly make it superior to those who live between the coasts.