In what might be the most wholesome interagency collaboration San Francisco has seen in a while, a California sea lion pup was found wandering near 48th and Irving streets in the Outer Sunset during the early morning hours of April 16 — roughly a dozen blocks from the ocean and very much out of its element.

The pup, now affectionately named Irving after the street where it was discovered, was safely corralled by a trained responder from the Marine Mammal Center working alongside SFPD officers and Rec and Park rangers. Ocean Ave Veterinary pitched in a carrier crate, and the little guy (or gal — sex hasn't been determined yet) was transported to a ranger station before being transferred to the Marine Mammal Center's hospital in Sausalito by mid-morning.

No one knows yet why Irving decided to take a stroll through the neighborhood. The pup is scheduled for a full admission exam this week, where veterinary experts will evaluate its condition, check for underlying health issues, and figure out a long-term plan.

Here's what we actually love about this story: it worked. Multiple agencies — SFPD, Rec and Park, a nonprofit rescue organization, and a local vet clinic — coordinated quickly and efficiently to help one confused sea lion pup. No jurisdictional turf wars. No six-month environmental review. No $4 million consulting contract to determine whether the sea lion identified as a resident or a tourist. Just competent people doing the right thing at 5 a.m.

If only every city operation ran this smoothly.

We'll be keeping an eye on Irving's recovery. In the meantime, if you're walking the foggy blocks of the Outer Sunset before dawn, maybe keep your eyes peeled. Apparently the local wildlife has decided the neighborhood is worth exploring — and honestly, with all those great restaurants on Irving Street, who can blame them?

Get well soon, Irving. The Sunset is rooting for you.