Fighting Panhandling with Pooches

The city of San Francisco is trying a novel approach to deal with two seemingly unrelated problems: unwanted dogs and a proliferation of panhandlers:

Now a government-backed program will try a two-for-one solution to make a dent in these seemingly disparate problems.

WOOF, Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos, will pair residents in supportive housing who agree not to panhandle with adolescent puppies in need of socialization in order to be permanently adopted. The approach is believed to be unlike any other currently being tried and was the brainchild of Rebecca Katz, the city’s director of Animal Care and Control, and Bevan Dufty, the newly-appointed director of Housing Opportunities, Partnerships and Engagement.

“We think it will be absolutely magic to give these individuals and these dogs a second chance together,” says Dufty, Mayor Ed Lee’s point person on homelessness. “For the WOOFers it provides them a sense of purpose and dignity like no other.”