The latest flashpoint? Outside White Cap and Underdogs in the Outer Sunset, where a merle Australian Shepherd mix has apparently made a habit of approaching leashed dogs while growling — off-leash, of course — while its owner grabs food next door. The dog's owner has already been confronted about it. Didn't seem to stick.

Let's be clear about something: San Francisco has leash laws. They exist. You can look them up. Outside of designated off-leash areas, your dog needs to be on a leash. This isn't a suggestion. It's not a vibe. It's the law.

But enforcement? Basically nonexistent. Animal Care & Control is stretched thin, and SFPD has roughly zero interest in writing leash citations when they've got bigger problems. So the responsibility falls entirely on individual dog owners to just… not be selfish. And that's where the system breaks down.

The off-leash entitlement crowd operates on a simple and infuriating logic: my dog is friendly, so the rules don't apply to me. Except half the time, the dog isn't friendly. It's "usually fine" or "just playing" or "never does this" — all phrases you hear approximately two seconds after someone else's dog gets snapped at.

This is a liberty issue, frankly. If you're walking your dog on a leash and following the rules, you shouldn't have to worry about someone else's unsecured animal creating a dangerous situation. Your right to peacefully walk your dog on a public sidewalk shouldn't be contingent on a stranger's judgment about their pet's temperament.

San Francisco is a phenomenal dog city. We love dogs here. But loving dogs means being responsible with them — not treating shared public spaces like your personal dog park because enforcement is a joke.

Leash your dog. Or leave it home. It's really not complicated.