The Fight is Over: the GGNRA Rolls Over! After a 14-year battle to protect the rights of dog owners in the GGNRA, the National Park Service has withdrawn the proposed dog management plan. Here is the latest from Sally Stephens, San Francisco Dog Owners Group: “The withdrawal of the Park Service’s proposed dog plan means that recreational access to this urban recreation area will continue to be protected. People will continue to be able to walk with their dogs on the lands in the GGNRA on which they’ve walked for generations. The National Park Service’s withdrawal of the dog plan that they had spent decades and millions of dollars trying to implement was an official acknowledgment that the process was so fatally flawed — as shown in the Woofieleaks emails — that the dog plan that resulted from the process was itself fatally flawed and had to be abandoned. This is a great victory for people who enjoy walking with their dogs in the GGNRA.”

Founded in 1976 by a group of friends, SFDOG organized more formally in 1997 in reaction to the closing of Ocean Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to off-leash recreation. What started as a response to that single closure has evolved into something much larger. The group works with dog owners about what it means to be a responsible owner. They help non-dog owners understand dog behavior to alleviate any fears or misconceptions they may have. They also educate elected and appointed officials about dogs and the benefits of off-leash recreation.

Beyond advocacy, SFDOG has expanded to include a variety of educational programs designed to help San Francisco residents understand dogs and their place in our culture. They share information about the joy of dogs with others and serve as a central clearinghouse for details about neighborhood dog groups, responsible ownership practices, and off-leash recreation opportunities throughout the city. If you’re new to San Francisco or looking to connect with other dog owners who care about both recreation and community responsibility, SFDOG is a good resource to understand what’s happening locally with dog policy and where you can legally exercise your dog off-leash.