About Us

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. While continuing to work for off-leash recreational opportunities for responsible dog owners/guardians and their companion animals, we have expanded our mission to include a variety of programs designed to educate the people of San Francisco about dogs and their place in our culture.

We work with dog owners/guardians about what it means to be a responsible dog owner/guardian. We help non-dog owners understand dog behavior to alleviate any fears or misconceptions they may have. We educate elected and appointed officials about dogs and the benefits of off-leash recreation. We share the "joy of dog" with others, and provide a central clearinghouse of information about neighborhood dog groups, responsible dog ownership/guardianship, and off-leash recreation.