A stray dog turned up in North Beach this week, doing what most of us do in the neighborhood — heading straight for a restaurant.

The pup wandered into a local eatery with no tags, no microchip, and no apparent dinner reservation. Animal Care & Control has been notified and is involved, but as of now, the dog's owner remains a mystery.

Look, we love a feel-good lost-dog story as much as anyone, but this is also a good reminder: tag and chip your pets, people. A microchip costs somewhere between $25 and $50 and takes about five minutes. Tags cost even less. Both dramatically increase the chances your furry friend makes it home instead of entering San Francisco's already-strained animal services system.

ACC does solid work, but like most city agencies, they're stretched thin and operating on a budget that doesn't exactly scream abundance. Every unidentified animal that comes through their doors is time and resources that could be spent elsewhere. A simple microchip is the most cost-effective insurance policy a pet owner can buy — and it's one that doesn't require a government mandate to make sense.

If you recognize this dog or know someone in North Beach who's missing a pup, reach out to SF Animal Care & Control. And if you're a pet owner who's been putting off the chip appointment, consider this your nudge. Your dog might have great taste in restaurants, but they're terrible at finding their way home.